Calibrating Estimating Fudge Factors

NOTE-- We retired our older BidMagic estimating software in 2001. Since then, it is replaced by Goldenseal construction estimating software.

We still include this BidMagic estimating software manual as a convenience for users of our older estimation software.


Calibrating with Fudge Factors

If you need to make a quick adjustment and are willing to sacrifice some accuracy, use Fudge factors to get the BidMagic construction estimating software program to match your costs.

To adjust Fudge factors, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Basic Costs from the Navigate menu.
  2. Divide the actual labor costs by the estimated labor costs from BidMagic. Multiply the ratio by 100 to convert it to a percentage. EXAMPLE: If actual labor costs were $42,000 and BidMagic calculated labor at $40,000, the ratio would be 1.05, or 105%.
  3. Set the Labor Fudge factor equal to the actual/estimated ratio, minus 100%. EXAMPLE: If the actual/estimated ratio is 105%, set the Labor Fudge factor to 5%.
  4. Repeat step 2 for material costs, then adjust the Material Fudge factor as in step 3.
  5. Repeat step 2 for subcontractor costs, then adjust the Subcontractor Fudge factor as in step 3.

If you have used the Fudge factors to calibrate BidMagic and then want to also use them to adjust a bid for some unusual condition, be sure to add the new adjustment to the Fudge factor adjustment you made when calibrating.

It's better to use one of the other calibration methods, if you have the time, so you can save the Fudge factors for handling job-to-job variations in cost.