Tools We Love

Gregory Plouff, CEO of remodeling firm Albert D. Thomas Inc. in St. Clair Shores, Mich., lists his five favorite field and office tools:

1. Microsoft Excel. "It's a very versatile program. We use it for estimating, budgets, job costing, etc."
2. Palm Pilot. "We use these for customer, vendor and subcontractor information. It's easy to share the information with my men, whom I bought Palms for."
3. Digital camera. "We use it for documenting jobs and when we look at jobs to produce estimates. It shows subs or employees what we're talking about."
4. Internet. "I want my subs to e-mail estimates to me so I can copy and paste their specifications into my estimates. I also like to have invoices by e-mail that are very descriptive. And the Internet is a great research tool."
5. Hilti foam dispenser. "It's great for doors and windows."

Favorites