The Estimate Schedule helps you build a preliminary timeline while preparing an estimate. You can use it to:
Get a better understanding of how long the work is likely to take.
Create a preliminary schedule to include with a quote.
Build a schedule that can later be carried across to the job when the estimate is converted into a job.
Watch this video to get an overview of all things scheduling, otherwise see instructions on specific tasks below the video.
Adding items to the Estimate Schedule
You can add items to the schedule directly from the estimate.
Open the estimate.
Select the T button to add the relevant estimate items to the schedule.
Expand the schedule to view categories and sub-items.
Use the + buttons to add additional categories or sub-items as needed.
The schedule can be adjusted after the items have been added, so you can use the estimate schedule as a starting point and then build out the timeline.
Using a schedule template
You can also start an Estimate Schedule from a template.
When applying a template, you can choose to:
Replace the existing schedule.
Add the template after the existing tasks.
Adding a template after existing tasks allows you to combine different parts of a schedule. For example, you could add a pre-construction schedule first and then add the main work schedule after it.
When applying a template, you can also choose the template's start date and the information you want to include.
Once the template has been applied, you can continue to adjust the schedule to suit the estimate.
Moving tasks
Tasks can be moved within the Estimate Schedule to adjust the planned timing of the work.
The Estimate Schedule is intended for planning, so you can adjust task dates and durations, but progress tracking is not available at the estimate stage.
Adding dependencies
Dependencies allow you to link tasks so that one task's timing affects another.
Manual dependencies
You can manually link tasks when one task depends on another.
For example, if an inspection needs to happen seven days after concrete is completed, you can create an end-to-start dependency between the two tasks. This keeps the required time between them.
You can also use a start-to-start dependency when two tasks need to begin on the same day.
To remove a manual dependency, double-click the dependency line and confirm that you want to delete it.
Auto dependencies
Auto dependencies are useful when you need to move a group of tasks together.
For example, if the planned start date changes, auto dependencies can shift the tasks below it accordingly. They can also be useful when there is a delay that affects the timing of subsequent work.
A useful approach for delays is to add a category such as Rain Delay and use it to represent the gap in the schedule. This makes it clear later why the schedule was delayed.
What happens when the estimate becomes a job?
When you create a job from an estimate, the information from the Estimate Schedule is carried across to the Job Schedule.
This means you can use the Estimate Schedule to establish the initial timeline before the job starts, then continue developing the schedule once the job has been created.
The Estimate Schedule is therefore a useful planning tool for both estimating the duration of the work and providing a preliminary schedule with a quote.
See more on job schedules here