Bottom Line

The BidMagic estimating software shows a detailed breakdown of construction costs on the Bottom Line card.

The Bottom Line

To see a more detailed breakdown of costs, choose Bottom Line from the Navigate menu. It will take you to the Bottom Line card, where you can see the cost of each major construction cost category, along with additional information.

Basic Price Breakdown

The Bottom Line card shows you the project cost, broken down into major cost categories. Use the scrolling controls to see the labor, material and subcontractor costs for each category.

Grand totals for labor, material and subcontractor costs are displayed at bottom center, while the grand total cost for the project is shown at bottom right.

Use the Preferences card to choose either of two different cost category systems on the Bottom Line card (see page 96). The BidMagic system uses 31 construction cost categories arranged in chronological order, while the CSI system is based on 16 numbered construction cost divisions that are used by the American Institute of Architects, the Construction Specifications Institute, and other organizations.

The Bottom Line card also displays a 'per square foot' cost at lower right. This cost is calculated by dividing the grand total by the total project area. If you lock the project area, it will be suggested based on the total framing and finish areas in Dimensions. To enter your own square footage, first unlock the field, then type in your own quantity.

HINT: The per square foot figure is very useful for comparing against 'rules of thumb' figures.