It’s summer. That means your crews are battling the heat—and your inbox is buried in bids. If you’re a landscaping estimator, you’re in the thick of it: juggling mid-season change orders, fall prep jobs, and last-minute RFPs for commercial and residential installs.
So how do you move faster, stay accurate, and protect your profits?
Here are five hacks to help you breeze through the summer workload with STACK Takeoff & Estimating—without sacrificing your sanity (or your margins):
1. Build a Go-To Bid Library
Don’t start from scratch every time. Create a library of Items and Assemblies in STACK for your most common landscaping scopes:
- Sod, mulch, and decorative stone
- Irrigation systems
- Lighting and hardscape materials
- Trees, shrubs, and flower beds
STACK Pro Tip: Use STACK’s customizable landscaping assemblies to bundle plant types, labor, soil prep, and equipment together—drop in a full scope in seconds, not hours.
2. Skip Site Visits with Plan Uploads
Running to every jobsite to measure beds, paths, and irrigation zones? That’s valuable time you’ll never get back. STACK lets you upload plan sets and immediately begin measuring—all from your desk.
STACK Pro Tip: Use STACK’s layer and autoname tools to organize irrigation, planting, and hardscape zones for quicker, cleaner takeoffs—no more sorting through disorganized plans.
3. Speed Up Takeoffs with Smart Tools
Manually outlining mulch beds and paver paths takes forever—especially at volume. STACK’s powerful takeoff tools allow you to:
- Trace curved edges and organic shapes with ease
- Duplicate repeating areas like garden beds or lighting zones
- Measure square footage, volume, and linear feet in seconds
STACK Pro Tip: STACK’s multi-select and copy tools are perfect for repeated areas (like perimeter edging or lighting runs) so you can finish full-site takeoffs in record time.
4. Keep Estimates Aligned with Supplier Pricing
Landscaping material costs are anything but predictable. Pavers, stone, and plant materials shift constantly—and incorrect pricing can eat into your profit.
STACK helps you:
- Adjust prices in real-time
- Build in delivery or equipment rental costs
- Apply waste factors and labor rates automatically
STACK Pro Tip: Create custom formulas for materials like mulch (by cubic yard), gravel (by ton), or sod (by pallet) to ensure precision and eliminate spreadsheet juggling.
5. Stay in Sync Across Your Team
Whether you’re working with designers, estimators, or project managers, communication is key—and email chains just won’t cut it.
STACK’s cloud-based platform lets everyone work from the same set of plans, with real-time updates and version control built in.
STACK Pro Tip: Use markups and comments directly on the plan to flag changes, clarify quantities, and streamline team reviews—no more back-and-forth.
Ready to Clear the Pileup?
STACK’s Takeoff & Estimating platform is purpose-built for landscaping contractors who are buried in bids but determined to win. Whether you’re pricing a massive multi-acre install or a neighborhood entry refresh, STACK gives you the speed and accuracy to stay ahead.
Save time. Stay sharp. Win more.
