Spreadsheet checks before running Closing Cost in Philippines

What the checker catches

Run this scenario in DocketMath using the Closing Cost calculator.

When you run Closing Cost for the Philippines with DocketMath, the calculation is only as trustworthy as the numbers in your spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet checker helps you catch common data-quality issues before you run the Closing Cost routine, especially those that can quietly skew totals.

Below are the main categories of problems the checker is designed to detect (with PH-focused expectations and the calculator’s typical input requirements).

• Missing or blank inputs

  • Examples: empty purchase price, no loan amount / principal, or a blank property tax field (or any other required rate/tax base your sheet uses).

• Incorrect number formatting

  • Examples: commas stored as text (e.g., "1,250,000" as a string), currency symbols included (e.g., "₱1,250,000"), or decimal points placed incorrectly.

• Percent fields entered in the wrong format

  • Examples:

    • Entering 5 where the sheet (and the calculator input) expects 0.05
    • Entering "5%" (text) instead of a numeric percent/rate value

• Negative values where none should exist

  • Examples: negative transfer taxes or negative insurance premiums from a sign error or a copy/paste error.

• **Unit mismatches (time basis and measurement basis)

  • Examples:

    • Mixing annual and monthly rates
    • Using per-square-meter figures where the checker/calculator expects totals (or the reverse)

• Inconsistent totals and reconciliation breaks

  • Examples:

    • Loan amount doesn’t match the “principal” your related computations use
    • Subtotals don’t add up to the final “Total Closing Cost” line shown in your sheet

• Jurisdiction-aware toggles not aligned to your scenario

  • Examples:

    • PH-specific settings left on/off incorrectly
    • Default PH fee rows used when your sheet indicates a different transaction type
    • Scenario switches inconsistent with the inputs you entered (e.g., rate fields implying one case while toggles imply another)

Pitfall to watch: If your spreadsheet stores “5%” as text (for example "5%"), DocketMath may treat it as non-numeric and either fail or produce incorrect results. Running the checker first helps catch this early.

Why these checks matter for “Closing Cost” in PH

Many PH closing-cost spreadsheets compute multiple components (transaction-related fees, documentary requirements, taxes, and other charge lines). If just one input is off—like percent vs decimal, monthly vs annual, or missing the correct tax base—then downstream totals can shift dramatically even though the sheet looks correct at a glance.

The Spreadsheet checker helps you validate three practical areas:

• Integrity: Are all required fields present and numeric?
• Consistency: Do totals reconcile with the component inputs your sheet uses?
• Scenario alignment: Are PH settings and toggles consistent with what you actually entered?

When to run it

Run the checker at three key moments: before, after, and when you reuse a spreadsheet case. This keeps you safe from both “first-run” formatting issues and “later edit” conversion drift.

Run the checker before importing a spreadsheet into the Closing Cost workflow. It is especially helpful when you have multiple entries or when a teammate provided the inputs.

1) Before the first run

Run it right after you paste or import values for:

• purchase price
• loan amount / principal
• property area (if applicable in your sheet)
• any rate-based fields (percent rates, fee percentages, etc.)
• any date fields (if your sheet uses year/month logic or date-driven rules)

Goal: confirm the sheet inputs are complete, numeric, and formatted as the calculator expects for PH.

2) After you change any input rate or conversion factor

Run it anytime you adjust anything that can alter a base conversion, including:

• switching between 5 and 0.05
• changing whether a fee is monthly vs annual
• changing the tax base your sheet uses (for example: total price vs assessed value—depending on your sheet logic)

Goal: prevent conversion drift and copy-across formula mistakes that can silently impact totals.

3) After you copy the sheet to a new case

If you reuse a template for another property/loan:

• run the checker again on the new case
• verify the jurisdiction code stays PH
• confirm PH-specific rows aren’t left blank
• confirm scenario toggles match the new transaction

Goal: stop “template carryover” errors (like leftover rates, missing values, or incorrect switches).

Quick checklist (print-friendly)

Try the checker

Use the checker as a pre-flight step right before you compute Closing Cost in DocketMath.

Start here: /tools/closing-cost.

Upload the spreadsheet, review the warnings, and then run the calculation once the inputs are clean: Try the checker.

How to use it with your spreadsheet

1. Open the DocketMath closing-cost tool

   • Go to: /tools/closing-cost
2. Run a pre-check on your sheet inputs

   • Make sure your spreadsheet values match the calculator’s expectations for PH scenario fields, numeric formatting, and percent/rate format.
3. Run the closing-cost calculation

   • After the checker passes, run the calculation normally.
4. If you fixed inputs, re-run once

   • If the checker flags issues and you correct them, re-run the Closing Cost calculation to confirm the new totals reflect your intended PH scenario.

What output changes after fixes (typical patterns)

If the checker finds formatting or base issues, your Total Closing Cost can change in predictable ways:

Gentle disclaimer (keeps things safe)

This checker is meant to validate spreadsheet quality and alignment with the calculator’s input expectations for PH. It doesn’t replace reviewing your transaction documents (for example, contracts, official declarations, or fee/tax references). Treat results as a computational assist—not legal or official advice.

Related reading

• Average closing costs in Alabama — Rule summary with authoritative citations
• Average closing costs in Alaska — Rule summary with authoritative citations
• Average closing costs in Arizona — Rule summary with authoritative citations