Did you know? Permanently change prices from the Estimator

As you will be well aware by now, pricing plays a major role in the accuracy of you estimate. an Estimate only becomes a quotation once the pricing has been modified to the actual. Billcost is an estimating package with general provincial prices attached, and these could deviate by as far as 15% from actual prices. Therefore it is vitally important to go through the project prices and ensure that they are in fact correct before you submit a quotation to your client.

With this in mind, the Billcost Estimator allows you the opportunity to changes prices in the price field of a
Material Measure or Material Selection screen that will remain valid for the current project only.This means that when you create your next estimate and select the same master price file, you would need to change the prices again. Or alternatively open the master price file in the Price Customiser to permanently alter the prices

However, there is a way to make permanent changes to the master Price file from within the Estimator that applies for any non-labour item. This will save you time as it allows you to change the project price as well as the master price at the same time.

1. Open a Material Measure or Material Selection window.
2. Double-click on the description of the item you wish to adjust.

3. On the resulting screen, click the ‘Ordering’ Tab.

4. Highlight to Price File you wish to adjust.
5. In the ‘Price (excl.)’ field, enter the new VAT exclusive price for the item.
6. Enter the Lead Time and Discount if required.
7. Click ‘Update’. (If you do not do this, the change is not saved.)

8. Click ‘OK’.

Note: This method of Price File adjustment works well if you only have a small number of adjustments to make. If you wish to alter a large number of prices, or wish to make price adjustments on a percentage basis, the Price Customiser offers a far better and easier interface for this purpose.

Lead Time refers to the notice period your material supplier needs before he can deliver your goods, and is only required if you are using a Project Scheduling package in conjunction with Billcost. Most Schedulers are able to alert you as to when you should order your materials.