Switched from digital estimates to paper pads after a job in Austin

For like 3 years I was using a tablet app for all my estimates. I thought it looked professional and saved time. Then last month I was on a kitchen reno in Austin and my battery died mid-measurement. Had to borrow a notepad from the homeowner. That old school method made me slow down and catch a mistake with the corner angles. Now I do rough sketches on graph paper first, then transfer to the app later. Anyone else find paper helps you spot measurement errors better?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jason1mo ago

Buddy of mine runs a small paint crew and swore by his tablet for years. He left it in his truck overnight during a job in Houston and the screen cracked from the heat. After that he started carrying a pocket graph pad and a sharpie, says he catches layout mistakes way faster on paper than swiping through menus.

perry.lee1mo ago

Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about. So did your boy ever go back to using a tablet when he's doing the actual estimating or is he strictly pencil and paper now? I'm curious if he found a way to digitize the sketches after the fact or if he just scans them with his phone and calls it done. 'Cause I know a lot of guys who swear by paper for the rough layout but still need to send a clean digital copy to the homeowner or the lumber yard.