Permits & contingency

The two line types that decide whether you make money or lose it.

Permits and contingency are the two parts of an estimate most contractors fudge or skip. V104 makes both first-class line types so they get priced honestly and the client sees exactly what they're paying for.

Structured permit types

V104 ships with three named permit line types. Use them instead of folding permits into a generic "misc" line:

• Plumbing Permit — Plumbing rough-in, water heater, fixture replacement, drain work.
• HVAC Permit — Furnace, AC, ductwork, ventilation.
• Plan Review — Required for structural changes, additions, or any job where the city wants drawings approved before pulling main permits.

These line types pull from your saved permit fee schedule per jurisdiction. Set them up once in Settings → Permit Fees and they'll auto-populate the correct value for the project address.

Setting permit values

From the estimate, tap + Permit and pick the type. Enter the actual fee from the city or use the saved default. Add a note like "estimated — to be reconciled at issuance" if the final number depends on inspection. Permits are passed through to the client at cost or with a flat handling fee depending on how you've configured your account.

Contingency buffer presets

V104 gives you four presets. The right one depends on how much unknown there is in the job.

203K renovation specifics

FHA 203K rehabs need extra care. Two things to budget for that don't apply to standard remodels:

• HUD consultant draws — The consultant inspects work before each draw release. Add a contingency line for re-inspection fees if any draw fails the first inspection (typically $150-300 per re-inspection, varies by consultant).
• Plan revisions — 203K scope changes have to be approved through the consultant and lender before they're billable. Build in time, not just dollars, for that paperwork.

For 203K work, default contingency to 15-20% and add a separate 203K contingency reserve line that's controlled by the lender. V104 has a 203K toggle in the estimate header that surfaces these fields automatically.