When you use your Estimate Works for Word Estimating program for the first time, it is important to define the default settings such as materials, rates and taxes. The default values that you see when you use the program for the first time should not be used, these values are only meant to provide an example to be used when setting up your own defaults. The sections below describe the different settings that can be saved as defaults every time you open the Painting Estimator.
Materials and Rates Settings (' Rates & Settings' tab):
Descriptions and rates - you will see a list of descriptions with a price next to the descriptions. You may edit both the materials description and the price for each material. (See Setting Item Rates for more info on this topic.)
- Paint Covering - Description and rate, make sure to remember this is per coat.
- Deck or Floor Styles - Description and rate per sq. ft. or m. for floor or deck coatings.
- Door Styles - Description and rate, this is a flat rate per door (or other item).
- Window Styles - Description and rate, this is a flat rate per window (or other item).
- Site Descriptions - Description only of worksite (example: 3 bedroom house).
- Area Descriptions - Description only of area (example: bathroom).
- Include Comments - Label, Text and Use. Label short form that appears on the form. Text is what is written to the document. Use is to make it a default for all contracts.
- Exclude Comments - Label, Text and Use. Label short form that appears on the form. Text is what is written to the document. Use is to make it a default for all contracts.
- Fascia Styles - Description and rate, per lin. ft. or m.
- Soffit Styles - Description and rate, per lin. ft. or m.
- Warranty Comments - Description only of warranty (example: 3 years).
- Area Extras - Description and price.
These values are used when calculating the charges for each room based on either the dimensions or quantity of the item.
Report Settings ('Work Site' tab):
- The Estimators Name as well as City, State and Comments can be saved as defaults. These values can be over ridden by typing different information in at time a new estimate is created.
Payment Dates and Amounts ('Payments and Dates' tab):
- The default draw amounts and dates are loaded here from settings defined on the Company Information form. (See Setting Company Defaults for more info). These amounts can be adjusted on each estimate/contract as the estimate/contract is being created.
Setup/Cleanup Factor ('Details and Totals' tab):
- The default amount to be added to the estimate/contract to adjust for miscellaneous overhead from settings defined on the Company Information form. (See Setting Company Defaults for more info). This amount can be adjusted on each estimate/contract as the estimate/contract is being created.
Set System ('Area/Room Details' tab):
- Set pre-defined systems or assemblies based on the current list of items for the visible room/area. The new system/assembly will include the materials descriptions, rates and number of coats per the current room/area.
Related Topics:
Getting Started
Setting Company Defaults
Materials and Rates Settings
Setting Interior Painting Defaults