Editing a Global Assembly or Template in a Proposal

Overview
You can bring a global AutoCost template, such as a kitchen, into an estimate, save it to your catalog, and then customize it to match how you work. Once you save your changes to your catalog, every time you bring that template into a new estimate it already has your items, pricing and selection options. AutoCost templates use live material pricing.

Start a New Estimate

1. In the left-hand menu, click Jobs.

2. Click Pipeline.

3. Create a new job. The estimate opens with the Assign job to customer window.

4. Under Who is this job for?, select Existing customer, click Choose a customer and select the customer. You can also select New customer, or click Create new in the customer list.

5. In Name this job, enter a name for the job.

6. Click Assign customer.

 

Add an AutoCost Template

1. On the Estimate page, scroll down to AutoCost templates.

2. In Search AutoCost templates..., enter what you are looking for (for example, kitchen).

3. Check the box on the template you want (for example, Kitchen). The template is added to your estimate.

4. If a window opens asking you to Confirm required dimensions, click Get started to go through it, or click Skip this time.

5. Review the template. Click the arrow next to any section to expand it and see its items.

 

Save the Template to Your Catalog

1. Double-click the template's name and rename it (for example, Kitchen Templates - Version 1).

2. Hover over the template's row and click the six dots to the left of it.

3. Click Add to catalog. The template is saved to your catalog as it is, so you can start adjusting it.

 

Remove Items You Don't Need

1. Click the arrow next to a section to expand it (for example, Kitchen Permits).

2. Check the box on each item you don't usually need (for example, HVAC Permit Cost and Gas Permit).

3. In the bar at the top of the estimate, click Delete.

 

Adjust Allowance Pricing

Some items, such as rough-in adjustment allowances, use a scope of Minor, Medium and Major. Each scope gives a price bucket, so you can do a quick estimate and then look at the exact cost once your client says yes.

1. Expand the section (for example, Electrical & Plumbing Rough-In Adjustment Allowances).

2. Click the icon next to the item's name (for example, Plumbing Rough-In Adjustment Allowances). The item's window opens.

3. Click Sales, optionality and upgrades.

4. Under Add upgrades for this item?, with Variation options selected, click Get started!. The Selection options editor opens on Step 1: Variation traits, showing the Scope options.

5. Click Next: Create or edit 3 variants. Step 2: Variants list opens.

6. For each variant, click the cost and enter your own amount (for example, 400 for Minor). The customer price updates with your profit margin.

7. Click Save and close.

8. In the Confirm window, which says your changes are saved to your catalog, click Yes, go ahead to also save the changes to this project.

 

Adjust Selection Options

1. Expand the selections section (for example, Kitchen Selections), then expand the selection you want to change (for example, Kitchen Backsplash).

2. Click the icon next to the selection's name. The item's window opens.

3. Under Sales, optionality and upgrades, click the button to manage the options (for example, Manage 11 options...). The Selection options editor opens.

4. To remove an option, hover over it and click Delete. To add one, click Add another option.

5. To tag an option, click the tag on the option (for example, Good) and select a tag such as Good, Better, Best or Popular.

6. Click Save and close.

To rename any item, double-click its name.

 

Add a New Item With a Minimum Spend

1. Hover over the template's row and click the + sign.

2. Enter a name for the new item (for example, Demolition).

3. Set it up as a labor item and enter your labor cost (for example, 55). With a 30% profit margin, the price becomes 78.57.

4. Click the icon next to the item's name. The item's window opens.

5. Click Unit pricing, then scroll down and click Add minimum spend.

6. In What is the minimum spend for your customer on this item?, enter the minimum (for example, 250).

7. Close the window and enter the item's quantity (for example, 9).

The item charges the minimum spend until the quantity multiplied by the price goes above it. For example, with a $250 minimum and a price of $78.57, a quantity of 3 still charges $250, and a quantity of 9 charges more than $250.

 

Save Your Changes to the Catalog

1. Hover over the template's row and click the six dots to the left of it.

2. Click Save changes to catalog. The next time you bring this template into an estimate, it includes these changes.

 

Enter Measurements

1. In the estimate's left sidebar, click Takeoff.

2. Enter your measurements for each dimension, or click Draw takeoff.

 

Tips & Best Practices

• Rename Before You Save: Rename the template (for example, with a version number) before you add it to your catalog.
• Keep Selections Focused: Offer your clients a few options so they can click around and put themselves into the right price bucket without being overwhelmed.
• Steer Your Clients: Use tags such as Better, Best and Popular to guide clients toward the options you want. If a selection is trending, you can increase the profit margin on it.

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Why This Matters

• You don't have to delete or adjust the same items every time you use a template.
• Templates brought in from the global library can be customized to your own pricing.
• Price buckets let you give a quick estimate, then refine the cost once your client says yes.

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Summary

To customize a global template, create a new job, search AutoCost templates and add one to your estimate. Rename it and use the six dots to add it to your catalog. Remove items you don't need, adjust allowance pricing and selection options, and add new items with minimum spends. Then use the six dots to save changes to your catalog so the template has your changes every time you use it.