--- title: Real-Time Estimating description: Learn what real-time estimating is and how Join uses Items to report the cost impact of decisions as they happen and track progress toward budget. --- [Skip to content](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/real-time-estimating#main-content) [Contact Join Support](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Join Help Center](https://success.join.build/hubfs/Join%20Help%20Center.svg)](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact Join Support](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) - [Login](https://app.join.build/) [Login](https://app.join.build/) Hi! 👋 How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Join - Help Center](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Getting Started with Join](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en) 3. [Workflow Best Practices](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#workflow-best-practices) # Real-Time Estimating ## Learn what real-time estimating is and how Join uses Items to report the cost impact of decisions as they happen and track progress toward budget. Real-time Estimating is a presentation of the anticipated cost to the team as they are making decisions. Sometimes referred to as continuous estimating, this effort of regular, frequent adjustments allows for comparisons over time to measure progress toward the Budget and delivery of the project. ### Real-Time Estimating in Join The first step in Real-Time Estimating is reporting on decisions as they happen. This is accomplished in Join through the use of [Items](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/overview-items?hsLang=en). These ideas can encapsulate the context of the decision along with the potential impact on the project. As the decision status is transitioned from Pending to Accepted, the value will be reflected instantaneously in the Running Total.  ### Sharing an Estimate The Running Total and Item values can be viewed with the most up-to-date information on the [Project Sidebar](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/how-to-navigate-in-a-project?hsLang=en), [Cost Trendline](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/cost-trendline-dashboard?hsLang=en), or in a [Custom Report](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/reports-overview?hsLang=en). Because the application is web-based, anyone invited to the project can view the impacts as they happen without having to create and distribute a new report.  ### Incorporating Item Costs to a New Baseline As the project continues to develop, the Items that have been Accepted will be implemented into the new Milestone. This implementation is captured with a [status](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items-status?hsLang=en) update to Incorporated. To do this in Join, you can use the [Copy From](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/copying-an-existing-milestone-estimate-or-budget?hsLang=en) function to roll the previous Running Total into the new Estimate. This process takes the estimate lines from the Items and combines them with the Estimate, setting the new baseline as the old Running Total. This flow will allow you to dynamically make decisions and memorialize them, making the decisions the baseline in just a couple of clicks.  ***Note:*** *You can transition the Accepted Items from the previous Milestone to the new Milestone with a Status Update by checking the box when using Copy From.*  ### Collaboration Collaboration is essential in Real-Time estimation. Communicate with the team on decisions leveraging the ability to assign Items, add deadlines, make notes, notify one another about the specific Item, and memorialize the decisions as you make them. For more details, see the [Lifecycle of an Item](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/lifecycle-of-an-item?hsLang=en) article. - [Getting Started with Join](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Join Overview](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#join-overview) - [I'm a new Join user](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#im-a-new-join-user) - [My company is new to Join](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#my-company-is-new-to-join) - [I want to use Join on my project](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#i-want-to-use-join-on-my-project) - [Workflow Best Practices](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#workflow-best-practices) - [Getting Started for Project Admins](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#getting-started-for-project-admins) - [Getting Started for General Contractors](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#getting-started-for-general-contractors) - [Getting Started for Design Team Members](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#getting-started-for-design-team-members) - [Getting Started for Owners](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/getting-started-with-join?hsLang=en#getting-started-for-owners) - [Product Updates](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/product-updates?hsLang=en#main-content) - [What's New](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/product-updates?hsLang=en#whats-new) - [Early Access](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/product-updates?hsLang=en#early-access) - [Join for Pursuit](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-for-pursuit?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Pursuit Resources](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-for-pursuit?hsLang=en#pursuit-resources) - [Dashboard](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/dashboard?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Dashboard](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/dashboard?hsLang=en#dashboard) - [Charts](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/dashboard?hsLang=en#charts) - [Milestones](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/milestones?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Milestones](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/milestones?hsLang=en#milestones) - [Estimates and Budgets](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/milestones?hsLang=en#estimates-and-budgets) - [Importing](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/milestones?hsLang=en#importing) - [Items](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Items](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#items) - [Options](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#options) - [Status](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#status) - [Scenarios](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#scenarios) - [Item Library](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#item-library) - [Schedule Impact](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#schedule-impact) - [Ideas](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/items?hsLang=en#ideas) - [Markups](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Markups](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#markups) - [Milestone Markups](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#milestone-markups) - [Item Markups](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#item-markups) - [Contingencies and Allowances](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#contingencies-and-allowances) - [Cost Display Settings](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/markups?hsLang=en#cost-display-settings) - [Risk Register](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/risk-register?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Risk Register](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/risk-register?hsLang=en#risk-register) - [Timeline](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/timeline?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Timeline](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/timeline?hsLang=en#timeline) - [Reports](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/reports?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Reporting](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/reports?hsLang=en#reporting) - [Customizable Reports](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/reports?hsLang=en#customizable-reports) - [Team](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/team?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Team](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/team?hsLang=en#team) - [Roles and Permissions](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/team?hsLang=en#roles-and-permissions) - [Project Settings](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Project Settings](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#project-settings) - [Categorizations](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#categorizations) - [Units of Measure](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#units-of-measure) - [Item Schedule Impact and Display](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#item-schedule-impact-and-display) - [Default Item Template](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#default-item-template) - [Notifications](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#notifications) - [Print Header](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#print-header) - [Customize Display](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/project-settings?hsLang=en#customize-display) - [Projects and Programs](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/projects-and-programs?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Projects and Programs](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/projects-and-programs?hsLang=en#projects-and-programs) - [Projects](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/projects-and-programs?hsLang=en#projects) - [Programs](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/projects-and-programs?hsLang=en#programs) - [Company Settings](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/company-settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Company Settings](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/company-settings?hsLang=en#company-settings) - [Company Standards](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/company-settings?hsLang=en#company-standards) - [Join Benchmarking](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-benchmarking?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Project Comparisons Report](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-benchmarking?hsLang=en#project-comparisons-report) - [Join Insights](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-insights?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Join Insights](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/join-insights?hsLang=en#join-insights) - [Integrations](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/integrations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Integrations](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/integrations?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Security](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/security?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/security?hsLang=en#frequently-asked-questions) - [Single Sign-on](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/security?hsLang=en#single-sign-on) - [AI](https://success.join.build/en/knowledge/ai?hsLang=en) [![Artboard 3@4x-8](https://success.join.build/hs-fs/hubfs/Artboard%203@4x-8.png?width=100&height=69&name=Artboard%203@4x-8.png "Artboard 3@4x-8")](https://join.build) © 2026 - Join | All rights reserved.