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Assembly Component Pricing

Configure pricing tiers for assembly components to offer customers Low, Mid, and High quality options.

Overview

Assemblies in Readybuild contain individual components (materials, labor, subcontractors). Each component can have multiple pricing tiers that correspond to different quality levels. When estimators select an option (Low, Mid, High) for an assembly, the appropriate component prices are used.

How Assembly Pricing Works

The Three Tiers

TierDescriptionTypical Use
LowBudget/builder-grade optionsCost-conscious customers, rentals
MidStandard/mid-range optionsMost typical projects
HighPremium/high-end optionsLuxury projects, upgrades

Price Cascading

When a component doesn't have a price set for a specific tier, Readybuild uses the next available tier:

  1. If High is empty → Uses Mid price
  2. If Mid is empty → Uses Low price
  3. Low price is always required

This means you only need to set prices for tiers that differ from the lower tier.

Setting Component Prices

Accessing the Price Editor

  1. Go to Settings > Estimates > Assemblies
  2. Find and click on the assembly you want to edit
  3. The assembly detail view shows all components
  4. Click on a component row to edit its pricing

Price Fields

For each component in an assembly, you can set:

FieldDescription
Low Unit CostBase price for budget option (required)
Mid Unit CostPrice for standard option (optional - cascades from Low)
High Unit CostPrice for premium option (optional - cascades from Mid)

Setting Prices

  1. Click on the component row to edit
  2. Enter the Low Unit Cost (this is required)
  3. Enter the Mid Unit Cost if it differs from Low
  4. Enter the High Unit Cost if it differs from Mid
  5. Click Save to apply changes

Example: Kitchen Cabinet Assembly

Consider an assembly for "Upper Cabinet 36" Wall":

ComponentLowMidHigh
Cabinet Box$150$275$450
Door/Drawer Front$45$85$150
Hardware (per door)$5$15$40
Installation Labor$75$75$75

In this example:

  • Materials vary significantly by quality tier
  • Labor stays the same across all tiers (same installation effort)

When an estimator selects the "High" option for this assembly, the system uses the High prices for all components.

Managing Assemblies

Viewing Assembly Components

  1. Navigate to Settings > Estimates > Assemblies
  2. Click on an assembly to expand it
  3. View all components with their quantities and pricing

Component Details

Each component in an assembly includes:

  • Component Name - Description of the item
  • Quantity - How many of this component per assembly unit
  • Unit - Unit of measure (each, sqft, etc.)
  • Low/Mid/High Pricing - The three pricing tiers
  • Type - Material, Labor, or Subcontractor

Adding Components to Assemblies

To add a new component to an existing assembly:

  1. Open the assembly detail view
  2. Click Add Component
  3. Search for and select a component from the cost book
  4. Set the quantity needed per assembly unit
  5. Configure Low/Mid/High pricing
  6. Click Save

Removing Components

  1. Open the assembly detail view
  2. Find the component to remove
  3. Click the delete icon
  4. Confirm removal

Pricing Strategy Tips

Material Pricing

Materials typically have the largest variation between tiers:

  • Low: Basic materials, contractor-grade, limited finishes
  • Mid: Standard quality, popular brands, common finishes
  • High: Premium materials, designer brands, custom finishes

Labor Pricing

Labor may or may not vary by tier:

  • Keep same when installation effort is identical
  • Increase for High if premium materials require more careful handling or specialized skills

Subcontractor Pricing

Subcontractor pricing often depends on the type of work:

  • Specialized trades may charge more for premium installations
  • Standard trades may charge the same regardless of material quality

Using Options in Estimates

When estimators add an assembly with pricing options:

  1. They select the assembly from the panel
  2. They choose Low, Mid, or High from the options dropdown
  3. The assembly is added with pricing from the selected tier
  4. Options can be changed after adding by clicking on the assembly row

See Using Assemblies for detailed estimating instructions.

When to Use Pricing Tiers

Good Candidates for Tiered Pricing

  • Cabinets (significant quality/price range)
  • Countertops (laminate vs quartz vs granite)
  • Flooring (vinyl vs hardwood vs exotic)
  • Fixtures (builder vs designer grade)
  • Appliances (standard vs premium brands)

May Not Need Tiers

  • Structural materials (same grade required by code)
  • Labor-only items (effort doesn't change)
  • Demolition work (same regardless of what's being removed)
  • Standard supplies (nails, screws, adhesives)

Bulk Price Updates

If material costs change across many assemblies:

  1. Update prices in your Cost Book first
  2. Assemblies that reference those components will reflect updated pricing
  3. Review assemblies to ensure pricing still makes sense
note

Estimates that have already been created are not automatically updated when assembly prices change. Only new assemblies added after the price change will use the new pricing.

Best Practices

Keep Pricing Current

  • Review assembly pricing quarterly
  • Update when vendor pricing changes
  • Verify Low tier covers your costs with reasonable markup

Use Realistic Differences

  • Tier price differences should reflect actual market options
  • Avoid arbitrary percentage increases
  • Base pricing on real products you would actually install

Document Assumptions

  • Note which products/brands each tier represents
  • This helps estimators explain options to customers
  • Keeps pricing consistent across your team

Standardize Across Similar Assemblies

  • Similar assemblies should have proportionate pricing
  • A "24" vanity" shouldn't cost more than a "30" vanity" at the same tier
  • Review assemblies as a group periodically