Professional Estimating Services for Home Builders
We provide accurate estimating and quantity take-off services for home builders across the UK. Detailed cost figures let you price jobs with confidence, keep budgets under control and bid competitively.
What a Home Builder Estimate Includes
A complete estimate for a new house or extension usually covers:
- Take-off: measured quantities for each trade, taken from your plans and specification.
- Materials: a materials list with quantities, so you can check it against supplier prices.
- Labour: pricing for each trade, shown separately from materials.
- Site costs: items that apply to the whole job, such as access, welfare and temporary works, where they are needed.
- Exclusions: items outside the plans or specification, listed clearly so nothing is assumed.
How Trade Quantities and Pricing Are Built Up
Quantities are measured trade by trade, such as groundworks, brickwork, roofing, plumbing, electrical and decorating. Each trade is priced separately, so you can see where the cost sits and compare it with your own subcontractor quotes.
What We Need to Start
- Plans and elevations, in PDF or CAD format
- Specification or schedule of works, if you have one
- Scope: which parts of the project are included, such as the new build, extension or loft
- Any tender format or deadline you need to follow
Builders Estimating for New Builds and Extensions
Our builders estimating follows the same method for every type of project. The scope changes, but the way we measure, price and state assumptions stays the same.
- New build houses: each house type measured and priced, with repeated plots priced from the same drawings.
- House extensions: foundations, walls, roof, openings and services for the new space, priced separately from the existing house.
- Loft conversions: structure, staircase, insulation, windows and services for the new room, measured from the drawings.
- Renovations: strip-out, structural works, services and finishes for the areas being refurbished.
- Owner-built homes: a clear take-off and price for each stage, so you can plan costs and cash flow.
Estimating Services for Builders: Take-Off and Pricing
Our estimating services for builders start with a full take-off from your drawings. Each item is measured in the right unit and then priced, so the total is easy to check.
- Floor areas and wall lengths are measured in square metres and metres.
- Doors, windows, sanitary fittings and other items are counted one by one.
- Materials and labour are priced separately, with the assumptions stated for each trade.
- Any item that is not fully defined is listed as a provisional sum or an exclusion.
Who Our Home Builder Estimates Are For
We prepare estimates for UK home builders, small and medium builders, developers and owner-builders who need a clear price before they start on site or tender for work.
How We Build a Home Builder Estimate
Each estimate follows the same steps, so you can follow the logic and check it against your plans.
- Review the plans and specification, and note any gaps or unclear items.
- Measure the quantities trade by trade, in the right units.
- Price the materials and labour for each trade.
- Add site costs, and write down the assumptions and exclusions.
- Issue the estimate, answer your questions, and update it if the scope changes.
Trades We Estimate for Home Builds
Home builds often involve several trades on the same job. We can estimate the main packages on a typical project:
- Groundworks
- Brickwork
- Roofing
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Painting and decorating
Home Builder Estimating Terms Explained
These terms appear in most builders' estimates. Knowing them makes a tender easier to read:
- Take-off: measuring quantities from the plans and specification.
- Preliminaries: site costs that apply to the whole job, such as access, welfare and temporary works.
- Provisional sum: an allowance for work that is not yet fully defined.
- Variation: a change to the agreed scope, priced separately from the original estimate.
- Exclusions: items that are not included in the estimate and need to be priced separately.
What You Receive With Your Home Builder Estimate
Your estimate is set out so that you can check it and use it for tender. It normally includes:
- A short scope summary, listing the plans and specification used
- Measured quantities for each trade
- Materials and labour priced separately
- A list of site costs, inclusions, exclusions and assumptions
- A note of any information still needed to firm up the price
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Builder Estimating
What is included in your estimate?
Each estimate features measured quantities, a materials list, labour pricing and itemised costs adapted to each job.
What type of home building projects do you cover?
We cover newly built houses, multi-unit residential schemes, owner-built homes and bespoke home projects.
How quickly can you complete an estimate?
Turnaround usually takes one to three working days, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Can you estimate from PDF or CAD plans?
Yes. PDF and CAD drawings both work well. Plans with a clear scale and a schedule of works help us price accurately.
Do you estimate house extensions and loft conversions as well as new builds?
Yes. We estimate new builds, house extensions and loft conversions. The same take-off and pricing method applies to each.
Do you price materials as well as labour?
Yes. Materials and labour are priced separately, so you can compare the figures with your own supplier and subcontractor quotes.
What happens if the plans change after the estimate?
We update the affected items and show the change clearly, so you can see the effect on cost.
Related Estimating Services
Home builds often need other estimates as well. If your project also includes these packages, we can price them in the same format:
- House extension estimating
- Loft conversion estimating
- Groundworks estimating services
- Roofing estimating services
- Electrical estimating services
- Quantity take-off services
Get a Quote for Your Home Builder Estimate
Send us your plans and specification, along with the scope and any deadline you need to meet. If you want to see our format first, ask us for a free sample estimate.
Call us on +44 7576 532125, or use the Get a Quote button below.