---
id: 2026-01-22T14:56:00-0500
title: 2026-01-22 14:56:??
tags:
  - occupational
  - topic/estimating
daily: "[[2026-01-22]]"
---
# 2026-01-22 14:56:??

### Accurate Budget Vs. Accurate BOM

#### Quote

> [!quote] [[joel-jansen]] 2026-01-15 13:27 (pp.)
> I'd rather have an accurate budget than an accurate BOM.

#### Context

#### Analysis

It may be counterintuitive to BOM-oriented estimators
(typical of those with an electrical background),
but deviating from organization standard practice
to make an assembly "more accurate"
(read: to make the estimate BOM
more closely resemble the construction BOM),
may make the budget _less_ accurate.

The review and adjustment process
is based on standard practice,
so deviations may have unpredictable effects.

Our assemblies do not include screws.
It would be more accurate to the BOM to add them,
but we budget for that cost in the summary,
so to do so would be double dipping.

Though not stated as such,
we budget for takeoff-to-install deviations the same way.

\

An organization's takeoff database
ought to include exactly what is necessary for takeoff
at the acceptable level of detail, and nothing else.
It ought to be assumed by estimators that the previous is true,
and that acceptable takeoff of any scope
must be possible with the contents of the database.
