# Estimate Grader > Use a guided self-assessment of one estimate, check the amounts you enter, and prepare questions from your Recorded, Not recorded, and Unknown choices. [Canonical tool](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader) You check the estimate and report which details are recorded. The tool counts those choices and checks the arithmetic you enter; it does not read the estimate, judge a fair price, assess contractor qualifications, or establish code compliance. ## Use your own information This is a guided self-assessment. You read your own document or notes, choose Recorded, Not recorded, Unknown, or Not applicable for each criterion, and enter the supporting wording or its location. The tool does not read, analyze, or verify a pasted or uploaded document. Start without an account. Your entries stay in this browser tab; available tab storage keeps them through refresh. The page tells you when storage is unavailable. Recorded means you found the information. Not recorded means you checked and it is missing from the document. Unknown means you have not established the answer. Not applicable is a deliberate exclusion. A blank answer never becomes a failed condition. ## Read and edit the assessment You check the estimate and report which details are recorded. The tool counts those choices and checks the arithmetic you enter; it does not read the estimate, judge a fair price, assess contractor qualifications, or establish code compliance. Each recorded criterion counts once. The percentage is recorded / (recorded + confirmed missing); unknown and not-applicable answers are excluded. The report always shows these counts alongside the percentage. If no applicable criteria have been checked, no percentage is given. This is a checklist of supplied information, not an independent verification. Take away the exact details and amounts you entered, the arithmetic check, and questions tied to fields you marked missing or unknown. The question list does not assume that an unpriced item costs zero. Change answers to recalculate. Review the takeaway alongside your source, edit your assessment note and next steps, then print or choose Save as PDF in the browser print dialog. The Make your own link and QR open the blank tool; they do not carry your entries. ## Public example URLs GET /start/estimate-grader?example=starter displays an authored fictional example and its assessment in the initial HTML. Change example=complete for the completed example, or add focus=first-step for the first suggested next step. Supported values are example=starter|complete and focus=all|first-step. These parameters select only maintained public examples and settings. Add fresh=1 to begin a separate blank browser draft; the browser consumes that flag and keeps edits to the new draft through refresh. Other parameters do not enter the assessment. Do not put personal details, medicine text, addresses, or private documents into URLs. GET, HEAD, crawling, and prefetching do not submit work, call a model, publish an artifact, or incur generation charges. ## Visible criteria ### Work and quantities The work, quantities, and location are stated clearly enough to compare. Next question: Ask for the work and quantities in writing so you can compare the same scope. ### Materials and allowances Models, materials, or a named allowance are recorded where relevant. Next question: Ask which materials or allowances are included and what can change the price. ### Included and excluded work The estimate says who handles preparation, cleanup, disposal, and exclusions. Next question: Ask what is excluded and who handles preparation, cleanup, and disposal. ### Timing and dependencies The proposed start, duration, or scheduling conditions are written down. Next question: Ask for the proposed timing and any dependencies that could change it. ### Payment and changes Payment stages and the process for approving extra work are recorded. Next question: Ask how payments and written approval of extra work will work. ### Estimate identity and contact A date, version or reference, and a way to ask the estimator questions are recorded. Next question: Keep the estimate date or version and the estimator’s contact with this comparison. ## Try the maintained public examples - [Fictional fence repair estimate](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader?example=starter): Authored fictional input and its initial assessment. - [Fictional fence repair estimate: first next step](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader?example=starter&focus=first-step): The same public example, focused on its first next step. - [Fictional fence estimate with questions answered](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader?example=complete): Authored fictional input and its initial assessment. - [Fictional fence estimate with questions answered: first next step](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader?example=complete&focus=first-step): The same public example, focused on its first next step. ## What the fictional starter example produces ### Estimate questions Record: Fictional fence repair estimate 3 recorded. 2 confirmed not recorded. 1 still unknown. ### Estimate details you supplied **Work and quantities — Recorded** Replace 12 feet of damaged fence with matching height panels. **Materials and allowances — Recorded** Two cedar panels and replacement fasteners. **Included and excluded work — Not recorded — I checked** No supporting text supplied. **Timing and dependencies — Unknown / not checked** No supporting text supplied. **Payment and changes — Not recorded — I checked** No supporting text supplied. **Estimate identity and contact — Recorded** Example estimate F-104, dated September 9, 2026. ### Entered amounts (dollars) Entered amounts add to $525.00; the quoted total is $550.00. Difference: $25.00 above the entered sum. Ask what explains the difference. **Labor** 320.00 **Materials** 180.00 **Other charges, including any tax** 25.00 **Quoted total** 550.00 ### Questions to resolve before comparing What explains the difference between the entered line amounts and the quoted total? Keep the estimator’s actual reply with this note. **Included and excluded work — Not recorded — I checked** Ask what is excluded and who handles preparation, cleanup, and disposal. **Timing and dependencies — Unknown / not checked** First check whether this is recorded or applies; the answer remains unknown. Ask for the proposed timing and any dependencies that could change it. **Payment and changes — Not recorded — I checked** Ask how payments and written approval of extra work will work. [Start with your own information](https://makethisuseful.com/start/estimate-grader)