Budget Estimating & Cost Planning

We are dedicated to delivering precise budget estimating and cost planning services tailored to your project needs. This ensures that you have a clear understanding of financial requirements right from the outset, allowing for informed decision-making during the initial phases of your project.

Service overview -

Wessex.CC Quantity Surveyors offers a comprehensive system for budget estimation and cost planning, aimed at managing expenses effectively. Our approach ensures that clients receive optimal value in both design and construction while keeping project costs within the established budget. We begin by preparing an initial budget based on cost data from previous projects, providing a solid foundation for financial control throughout the project lifecycle.

 

We utilise advanced quantity surveying and estimating software to prepare feasibility estimates and cost plans tailored to our clients’ needs.

 

In providing budget estimating and cost planning for our clients several benefits can be achieved:

  • The tender amount is likely to align closely with the initial estimate.
  • Enhanced satisfaction with final outcomes.
  • Superior quality and performance in construction.
  • Accountability for budget and value.
  • Reduced likelihood of additional quantity bills.
  • Increased cost
  • effectiveness and value
  • for-money design.
  • A more rational design emerges from balanced expenditure across building elements.
  • Greater involvement of the quantity surveyor ensures cost considerations are prioritized.
  • Pre-tender analysis by architects and quantity surveyors facilitates earlier decision-making, leading to smoother project execution.
  • Early identification of high-cost components aids in effective cost planning and project comparison.

Effective cost planning is crucial to ensure that once a realistic estimate is established between the parties, all subsequent actions align with it, from the contractor’s successful bid to the final project expenses. Ongoing monitoring allows for early detection of potential overspending, enabling timely intervention.

 

As Quantity Surveyors, we offer comprehensive budget estimating and cost planning services, while also supporting architects by providing comparative cost analyses for various construction methods and finishes. This may include evaluating the cost implications of different building shapes or external cladding options. Additionally, we can advise on the overall financial impact of specific construction techniques.

The Cost Planning Process

The cost planning process consists essentially of three phases:

  1.  Establish a realistic preliminary estimate for the project.
  2. Develop a cost plan to allocate the estimate across various project components.
  3. Conduct a cost-checking process to verify that design details can be constructed within the budget.

The cost planning process begins with the quantity surveyor preparing an approximate estimate, followed by the establishment of cost targets based on various elements. As the design progresses, these targets are monitored for any discrepancies in spending relative to the architect’s specifications. A diligent quantity surveyor consistently seeks opportunities to simplify details without compromising the design, aiming to lower the overall tender amount.

 

Cost planning has become an essential service that clients increasingly expect from quantity surveyors over the past decade. This service is crucial for ensuring better value for money, controlling expenditures, and keeping project costs within the agreed budget. To deliver this effectively, it is vital for a quantity surveyor, such as Wessex.CC, to be engaged at the earliest stages of a project. This early involvement allows for a meaningful contribution during the brief and feasibility phases, ensuring that designers are fully aware of the cost implications associated with their design choices.