Changing Estimating Unit Costs

The BidMagic construction estimating software allows you to edit any of the estimating unit costs. Usually you'll change prices in a template, so your future estimates will use the new prices.

Changing Unit Prices

To change anything about a unit price item in the BidMagic estimating software, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Specifications card that contains the unit price.
2. Click on the pop-up button for any item in its category, and choose Edit Unit Prices from the bottom of the pop-up menu. This will take you to the Unit Price Editor.
3. Click on the item in the list at left.
4. To change the name of a unit price item, select the text in the Item Name box and type in a new name.
5. To change the unit size, select the text in the Unit Size box and type in a new unit size.
6. To change the skilled or unskilled person-hours per unit, the text in the Skilled Hours or Unskilled Hours box, and type in a new number. EXAMPLE: If it takes a skilled worker about one hour to prepare contracts for each 100 square feet of project area, type .01 into the Skilled Hours box. If it takes an unskilled worker one-half hour per 100 square feet, type .005 into the Unskilled Hours box (Example 1). See page 272 for more about unit prices.
7. To change the material cost per unit, double-click in the Material Price box and type in a new number.
8. To enter a new comment, select the text in the Comment box and type in new text.
9. To change the item code number, hold down the Option key and click on the Item code number. If you enter a new number, BidMagic will make sure it is not already in use, since each code number must be unique. WARNING: Do not change the item code number unless you have good reason to do so. BidMagic uses this number when exporting bids or unit prices, and changing it carelessly may cause serious problems.
10. Once you have entered new unit prices, click Save and Return to make the changes permanent. You'll return to the Specifications card so you can continue with the bid.

NOTE: To return to Specifications without saving changes, click Cancel.