Checking Contract Allowances

NOTE-- We retired the MacNail construction software back in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal, which is a complete, integrated business software package for Macintosh and Windows. Goldenseal handles construction spec writing, plus accounting, construction estimating, and project management, You enter project allowances as separate transactions in Goldenseal, and then include them in Estimates, and use them for allowance billing.

Before You Print That Construction Contract...

It's a good idea to check each of the contract clauses that is being handled as an allowance, to make sure there are no problems in what is being allowanced.

In some cases you may want to reword the allowance language so it is completely clear what costs are included, or how they will be handled. For example, you may want to clarify any of the following things:

* Whether the cost includes hardware, adhesives or other accessories.
* With plumbing fixtures, whether the cost includes shutoffs and other plumbing items.
* Whether cleanup and supervision costs ar e included in more complex construction items that are being allowanced.
* Whether contractor discounts are applied to the cost.

Checking Allowances-- in a Separate file

If you have chosen to list allowances in a separate file when the MacNail construction management software creates a contract, check the Allowances file for the project to make sure the allowances are correct.

To open a word processor Allowances file, follow these steps:

1. Switch to a word processor program.
2. Choose Open from the File menu.
3. Navigate to the Contracts folder, located inside the Spec Writer folder.
4. Open the desired Allowances file.

To use Spec Writer to open a spreadsheet Allowances file, follow these steps:

1. Choose Open File from the File menu.
2. Select Allowance Sheet as a file type to look for, then click OK.
3. Select the Allowance Sheet to open, then click OK.