NEW HOMES
ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS
UNITS & APARTMENTS
QUEENSLAND NEW SOUTH WALES VICTORIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA TASMANIA
ABOUT US
SMART BUILDING ESTIMATES supply building estimates at varying levels of detail. We specialise in architectural residential and commercial designs and can complete estimates on residential construction up to 5 storeys.
Our background is in construction, having been licenced builders for over 35 years, but our focus is on providing cost guidance to Architects, Building Designers, Developers, Builders and property owners. Building professionals need to be up-to-date when it comes to programming and budgeting their projects. Estimates can be prepared from feasibility stage right through to tender. A large proportion of our work is carried out at design development stage when the design is agreed upon and the need is to know whether it is practical within the clients budget.
ARCHITECTS ..
Customers will always remember the first price you gave them as a budget figure, especially if it is within their expectations? Getting a Preliminary Estimate to make sure that price is considered makes good sense.
BUILDERS ..
How can you establish your building programme if you do not know your needs. A Construction Estimate allows you to price jobs quickly and cost effectively with estimated materials costs, subcontract rates and labour listed separately.
If you are working in an area that you haven’t worked in for a while, then a Tender Estimate will help you adjust your quote for current market conditions.
PROPERTY OWNERS ..
With a fully costed estimate, your can ensure that you start with sufficient funds to cover the cost of your project. Even then, in the excitement of building your dream, the costs can run away without you noticing. Having documented your budget gives you control and provides you with a baseline to guide your project back on track.
CHOOSING YOUR ESTIMATE TYPE
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES
Prices start from $400
Delivery within 5 working days
Preliminary Estimates are used primarily for determining the feasibility of a project. This is the style of estimate that may be provided, by a builder, to the architect at Design Development stage, to provide the Architect's clients with some assurance that the design process is also aligned with the budget. We prepare these estimates for both Builders and Architects, and these are available for New Builds, Alterations and Additions.
These estimates are individually measured and have costs calculated, using averaged industry rates, with some sections are further broken down into sub-categories. Essentially an expanded SQM based estimate, these estimates rates are calculated taking into account the building style, location and build quality. These estimates are not suitable as a budgeting item for projects beyond the preliminary stage. Estimates are provided as per our sample estimate.
CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES
Prices start from $500
Delivery from 10 working days
Construction Estimates are used by builders to provide an initial estimate for projects, and may be upgraded, by the builder, to be a tender estimate calculation once the engineering and specifications are provided.
We carry out an individual quantity take-off and calculate rates for your ‘in-house’ work, including the rates you supply from your regular subcontractors, costs for materials supplied by you and PC item allowances or prices from you. This allows us to complete the estimate without chasing the subcontractors and suppliers for each project. This is supplied to you as a PDF and an Excel spreadsheet that you can adjust.
The ‘in-house’ work carried out by your company is priced into the estimate in the same way that a subcontractor is priced in. You are able to review and update your 'in-house' rates whenever necessary. Once we calculate your ‘in- house’ rates, material supply rates, prime cost allowances and preliminary sums, we are able to complete your Builder Estimate with very little input from you. This allows you to get back to the client quickly and helps build the client's trust in you.
PC items are included as standard allowances set by you, or you can provide us with quoted prices for specified items for each individual tender. Please note, we do not allow to re-calculate your rates for each individual project.
ARCHITECTURAL ESTIMATES
Prices start from $500
Delivery from 10 working days
Architectural Estimates can be calculated from design development drawings, enabling a customer to adjust the design to suit budget considerations prior to committing to the project. For accuracy, plan views and elevations are required.
These reports do not contain the detail of a fully costed estimate, the rates used are industry averages and rates based on local factors. Individual quotes from subcontractors are not sought and PC Items and finishes are estimated at quality levels, not priced on individual models, types or styles.
Architectural Estimates are composed of some composite prices for building components. For example footings are priced as a rate for the completed item, per l/m, including excavation, reinforcement, concrete and labour.
Components are not broken down into materials and labour. Usually the information supplied is insufficient to actually construct the project. Because of this, all quantities and rates in this estimate may be subject to change at the completion of the tender documents and this estimate should be used as a budget guide only, not a comprehensive costing.
PC items are included as standard allowances set by you, or you can provide us with quoted prices for specified items for each individual tender.
COMMERCIAL ESTIMATES
Prices start from $500
Delivery from 10 working days
Commercial Estimates are prepared to provide detailed and comprehensive estimates of commercial projects. We can prepare these estimates as a design development estimate without engineering. This allows changes to the design to be made without duplicating costs.
These estimates are prepared on an individual basis, addressing all aspects of the project. Because of this, formatting of your estimate may vary from samples supplied. For accuracy, we require a reasonable level of specification supplied prior to the fee proposal being provided by us.
HOW TO PLACE AN ORDER
TO REQUEST A QUOTE ....
Simply select the type of estimate you require. Then send us your plans and let us know when you need your estimate. We will reply promptly with a written quote and a delivery date. A sample of the type of estimate that you are looking for will be included with your quote.
If you need a specialised report, formatted specifically for you, we can help. Brief us on what you need and we will be happy to quote you, and provide exactly what you need.
TO PLACE AN ORDER ....
Reply to your quotation email approving us to go ahead. Please be sure to include your contact details, business name, address, phone, etc. We estimate a delivery date when we prepare your quote, and confirm the date when we receive your order. Please be aware that your delivery date may change if you delay placing your order.
As soon as we receive your order we will issue a deposit invoice and program your quote in our system.
Generally work will commence on your estimate as soon as your deposit payment is received, however this is also dependant on all the drawings and specifications being provided to us.
NOTE REGARDING COUNCIL LODGEMENTS:
Council requirements regarding estimate types, and included content, vary widely. If you intend to use your estimate for council approval please check the council requirements prior to ordering and satisfy yourself that you are ordering a suitable estimate and that the council will accept an estimate from us. We can alter reports to suit individual councils, but extra costs may be incurred if we need to make changes after the report has been commenced. Some councils may require a Quantity Surveyor to prepare your estimate and, unfortunately, we are unable to assist you if that is the case.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Estimates may be based on averaged data for your locality, plus some enquiries made by SMART Building Estimates to local trades and suppliers. We expect that all costs we provide in your estimate are achievable but, as costs vary from trades and suppliers, to different purchasers, we highly recommend that you check our rates with your own trades and suppliers prior to contracting any work.
Please note that the accuracy of your estimate relies upon the quality of the information supplied by you. Where quantities are unclear, or not measurable on your documents, we will presume that regular building practices are being followed and will estimate quantities accordingly. As this is an estimate, a subjective document containing our opinions or points of view, the responsibility to allow for any errors or omissions, or to ensure that information has not been misinterpreted, misread or misunderstood lies with the person purchasing this estimate.
The information supplied for some styles of estimate is insufficient to actually construct the project. Because of this, all quantities and rates in these estimates may be subject to change prior to construction and these documents should be used as a budget guide only, not a comprehensive costing. Quotations and contracts should not be prepared using any information supplied by SMART Building Estimates without verifying that you can achieve the estimated outcomes; therefore we limit our liability, in regard to these estimates, to an amount equal to, but not exceeding, the amount of the fees we have charged for the specific service we have provided.
SMART Building Estimates is not a Quantity Surveying business, our history is as builders for over 35 years and have many years experience in preparing estimates and quotes. We do not offer to cost or financially manage large commercial buildings. We only undertake low and medium-rise work, generally no more than 5 storeys, including apartment blocks, new homes, alterations and additions etc., and we do not offer on-going financial management or contract management.
