Comparison Estimates

Once you've decided on one or more projects to use to calibrate your unit costs, make a detailed Goldenseal estimate for each of them.

Make a Comparison Estimate

To make a comparison estimate, follow these steps:

1. Open your Goldenseal company file.
2. Choose Estimates from the Income menu (at the top of the screen).
3. Click the template button (the triangle next to the New button, on the left side) and choose whichever template is closest to this project. NOTE-- If you don't see a list of templates, make sure you begin with a Starter File.
4. Click the dimension buttons, and enter project dimensions.
5. Click the Update Quantities button to fill in project quantities.
6. Look through the list of assembly line items, and adjust anything that is different from the calculations.
7. When you are finished, you'll have a "theoretical" estimate that you can compare to actual costs.

You can start with one of our estimating templates, and then change anything that is different in your comparison project.

Take your time, and try to enter as much detail as you can about the project. Look for custom details, and add them to the bid along with the more usual components.

You may want to use the Goldenseal getting started manual and go through, step by step, so you don't accidentally miss anything. It's a lot more fun to learn our estimating program on a job you've already finished, rather than on a bid you have to get out by tomorrow!

Click here for the next step in calibrating estimate costs-- adjusting prices.

To return to calibrating basics, click here.
Click here to return to estimating topics.

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