Question 1

How do architectural and structural plan PDFs become a quantity takeoff?

Accepted Answer

Upload the architectural or structural PDF set to a project. Northwoods reads the stored sheets, extracts usable text or page imagery, and builds an evidence-backed takeoff draft with quantities, source pages, confidence, and review qualifications. Only usable output moves into final estimate review; scanned, empty, unreadable, or incomplete sheets stay visible as open evidence instead of being treated as complete scope.

Question 2

How accurate is a Northwoods estimate?

Accepted Answer

It is a planning and review document, not a guaranteed bid. Every number should be checked against the source tag, measured evidence, allowances, current trade or supplier quotes, site conditions, and unresolved questions. Rows may remain placeholders or carry review flags when the drawings do not support a confident quantity or price; those signals are there to guide owner review before a client number is sent.

Question 3

What Michigan regional pricing does Northwoods use?

Accepted Answer

The pricing library is anchored in Northwest Lower Michigan, including the Traverse City / Leelanau / Grand Traverse market. It combines named sources such as BLS OEWS, RSMeans, NAHB, supplier catalogs, and owner-confirmed overrides; available Michigan sub-market context can refine the estimate for areas such as Greater Grand Rapids and Greater Detroit. These are regional benchmarks, not a statewide promise or a substitute for a current quote.

Question 4

Which project files can I upload, and which files are analyzed?

Accepted Answer

Plan takeoff is for architectural and structural PDFs. Supporting project files can be categorized as specifications, selections, existing estimates, subcontractor quotes, supplier quotes, scope notes, or photos; depending on the category, supported formats include PDF, DOC/DOCX, TXT, XLS/XLSX, CSV, and common image files. A stored file is not automatically an analyzed file: processing status and usable evidence must be ready before it can inform the estimate. Supporting files are limited to 50 MB each, with a 20 MB limit for photos.

Question 5

How does the one-estimate trial work?

Accepted Answer

A new account receives one allowance-based first-estimate trial. It is not a seven-day timer and there is no second trial after the allowance is consumed. The reserved first project includes the proposal experience; after it is used, continue with a paid plan or buy pay-per-takeoff credits. A paid plan controls estimating access for its active period.

Question 6

What is in the proposal PDF, and when can I generate it?

Accepted Answer

The branded proposal PDF packages the reviewed quantity takeoff, labor build, regional material and subcontractor benchmarks, allowances, assumptions, exclusions, and option details into a client-ready document. It keeps the number explainable and carries the source and review context forward instead of presenting a bare total.

Question 7

When can I generate a proposal, and how does pay-per-takeoff work?

Accepted Answer

Export is gated until pricing controls and a usable estimate review are in place, and unresolved blocking drawing flags must be resolved or dismissed first. Paid plans include proposal access; the reserved first estimate can use it, and pay-per-takeoff access consumes one credit only when a proposal is successfully generated. Recheck revised drawings, quotes, allowances, and open questions before sending a changed number.

The questions behind the bid.