HyperEstimator Estimating Accuracy

Problem

numbers on total card seem to be off, not calculating accurately.

Diagnosis

He/HR estimating programs have accuracies of +- 10%; if the numbers are within this range it's probably just the program limitation.

Do they realize that all cost lines have overhead, profit, sales tax etc ADDED. HE “hides” soft costs in the hard costs, unlike MacNail construction estimating software [BidMagic displays soft costs].

Several items are added “in the background”--including siding labor per window, framing labor for stairs and corners, etc

Check fudge factors, locality factor, quality factor. They are multipliers that will adjust the cost

Zero prices- check to see if the category was included on Dimensions 5

Solution

If only a few categories are off, check those specs cds:

• did they change any unit prices? if so, that is probably it, check prices
• check the quantities. Check to make sure no huge numbers are there extending outside field
• did they type in “other” cost? Check if it is logical (it is dollars per square foot or per lineal foot), including labor and materials
• May possibly be a bad dimension that affects just a few items

Comments

most of the notes above apply to HE vsn 1.1. BidMagic Construction Estimating Software is much more accurate, and has no 'hidden' costs.

Entered 1/14/93 by Vinay. Updated 10/20/2010.

NOTE-- We retired BidMagic estimating software back in 2002, and replaced with Goldenseal-- which is integrated estimating software and project management software (plus optional accounting software).