Calibrating MacNail Estimating

NOTE-- In 2000 we retired MacNail and BidMagic (our previous estimating programs), and replaced them with Goldenseal construction estimating software. There are still die-hard MacNail and BidMagic users, so we keep their manuals online! Goldenseal includes similar estimating software features, plus accounting, job costing and project management. You'll use a similar process to calibrate pricing in Goldenseal.

Calibrating MacNail

NOTE-- There is also a more complete guide to calibrating costs.

Follow these steps to "calibrate" prices in the MacNail construction estimating software, so they match your costs:

1. Run a MacNail estimate on one or two jobs that you have already finished. Run through all the steps--type in your Fixed Costs and Job Dimensions, and enter the actual job conditions into the Specifications list.
2. When you have finished, you should have two numbers to compare--the MACNAIL bid price, and the ACTUAL one.
 3. If they are fairly close, you are in an area with regional costs similar to ours, and can use MacNail 'off the shelf' for future jobs with a fair degree of confidence. If there is a big difference (MacNail often predicts LOW for major metropolitan areas) you'll need to adjust the fudge factors until the MacNail estimating software is more accurate.
4. If all prices seem to be off uniformly, adjust the overall fudge factor. If only labor, materials or subcontractors are off, you can adjust the appropriate specific fudge factors.
5. Another approach would be to adjust the unit prices stored in the MacNail construction estimator software--it will take longer, but it will be more accurate (see page 145).

NOTE: Section controls are available in the Specifications list itself. Use them to fudge smaller sections of the bid (see page 178).