Estimating Qualities in Finished Bids

The Quality Factor is not available when you are creating a finished bid. Instead, quality differences are handled as specific line items in Specifications. This is the most accurate method you can use, since you'll be controlling each additional cost individually.

When using the BidMagic construction estimating software to estimate high-end work, a great deal of the extra cost shows up in special construction details such as custom shelving, fancier framing, and additional trim. Enter such details as line items in Specs.

NOTE: If you are doing a custom detail that is not listed in Specs, enter the cost as an 'other' item (see page 366).

The remaining cost difference will be in basic construction items that cost more than usual because you spend more time getting them right. For those items, edit the item's unit price to reflect the extra work (see page 260), or adjust the fudge factors to increase costs overall (see page 136).

HINT: If you frequently do work of different qualities, create several unit prices so you can choose between different grades of work. For example, for wallboard taping you might want separate 'cheap,' 'average' and 'top grade' unit prices.

You can also enter separate line items to cover the extra labor to 'get things right,' or the extra labor it takes to do more unusual or creative work. To handle those costs, create a blank 'other' line item, and enter a cost such as 'add for complex framing' or 'add for fancy finish' (see page 367).

NOTE-- We retired the BidMagic construction estimating software program in 2001. It has been replaced by Goldenseal construction bidding software. We still include this BidMagic estimating software program manual as a convenience for users of our older program. Many features are similar, in Goldenseal estimating.