Yes — you can include add-alternates on an estimate to show optional upgrades or scope items without including them in the base price.
For example, if a homeowner doesn’t want to include a level 5 smooth drywall finish in the main estimate, but you’d like to present it as an optional upgrade, add-alternates are a great way to do that.
Recommended approach for add-alternates
One common recommendation is to set the dollar amount of the add-alternate line item to $0, and include the actual price in the description of the line item. This keeps the base estimate clean while still clearly communicating upgrade options to the customer.
Ways to structure add-alternates on your estimate
There are two common ways to format add-alternates:
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Create a separate add-alternates group
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Add a new group at the bottom of the estimate form
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Include all add-alternate line items in this group
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Set each line item to $0 and list pricing details in the description
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Add add-alternates within existing groups
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Place add-alternate line items directly inside relevant groups
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For example, an optional drywall upgrade could live inside the drywall group
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This works well when the add-alternate is closely tied to a specific scope of work
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Both options work well — the best choice depends on how you prefer to organize and present your estimates.
If the client decides to approve of an upgrade, then you can