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Welcome to SMART ARCHITECTURAL ESTIMATES
At SMART Architectural Estimates, we specialize in providing estimates tailored to assist both builders and architects in determining the feasibility of their projects. Our expertise lies in offering comprehensive estimates for various types of projects including New Builds, Alterations, Additions and Renovations.
What are Preliminary Estimates?
Preliminary Estimates serve as invaluable tools during the Design Development stage, offering a crucial bridge between vision and reality. Builders can provide these estimates to architects, ensuring alignment between design aspirations and budget constraints. Likewise, architects can furnish their clients with assurances that their creative visions are in harmony with financial feasibility.
Each of our estimates is meticulously prepared, employing individually measured quantities and calculated costs. We utilize averaged industry rates, enhanced by detailed breakdowns into sub-categories where necessary. Our approach encompasses an expanded SQM-based methodology, adept at accommodating diverse building styles, locations, and build qualities.
It is important to understand that Preliminary Estimates are an average of what a project of your size, style and location can be built for, but not necessarily what it will cost to build.
What are Architectural Estimates?
Architectural Estimates are the next step up from Preliminary Estimates and serve as a valuable tool for clients to gauge the financial feasibility of their projects before fully committing. These estimates are fully measured off the architectural drawings. Engineering drawings are not required. It’s important to note that these estimates are based on industry averages rather than individual subcontractor quotes.
The estimates provide an overview of costs for various building components, such as wall types and footings, but they don't delve into the specifics of materials and labor breakdowns. This approach allows for a more holistic view of the project's financial implications without getting bogged down in minute details.
Ultimately, the goal of these estimates is to provide clients with a reasonable understanding of project costs while allowing flexibility for adjustments as the project moves forward. While quantities calculated aim to achieve a reasonable cost, it's acknowledged that some quantities may need to be altered to accommodate unforeseen expenses or areas of additional cost. Therefore, these estimates serve as a helpful starting point for budget planning, rather than precise figures for purchasing materials or issuing purchase orders.
Our Estimation Services Include:
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 7 working days
Preliminary Estimates are mainly used to help determine whether a project is financially viable. Builders often provide this type of estimate to architects during the design-development stage, giving clients confidence that the design is tracking in line with their budget. We prepare these estimates for both Builders and Architects, and they’re available for New Builds, Alterations, and Additions.
Each estimate is individually measured and costed using average industry rates, with certain sections broken down into more detailed sub-categories. Essentially, it’s a more detailed version of an sqm-based estimate, with rates tailored to the building style and level of finish. These estimates are intended only for early-stage guidance and are not suitable for budgeting beyond the preliminary phase.
New Construction & Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 1.00 - $ 5.00 sqm
Additions, Alterations & Renovations $ 1.50 - $ 6.00 sqm
Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 1.00 - $ 5.00 sqm
Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 1.00 - $ 4.00 sqm
ARCHITECTURAL ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 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 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.
Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 3.50 - $ 10.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 4.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.50 - $ 21.00 sqm
Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 10 working days
Construction Estimates are designed to give builders a clear early cost overview for projects that don’t yet have full engineering or detailed specifications. Simply forward the drawings, finish schedules and specifications you have.
We complete a dedicated quantity take-off for your job and build the estimate directly from those measured quantities. Your own labour rates, preferred subcontractor pricing, and material costs can all be incorporated, along with PC item allowances or any specific figures you supply. This means we can prepare your estimate efficiently—without needing to chase suppliers or subcontractors each time. You can choose two have the estimate supplied to you as a PDF, or an Excel spreadsheet that you can manually adjust, or both of these formats.
PC items can be included as standard allowances set by you, or you can provide specific quoted prices for individual tenders. Your company’s in-house labour is costed just like a subcontractor, using the rates you provide. You can update these rates whenever needed. Please note that we don’t recalculate your rates for every project.
Once your in-house rates, material costs, PC allowances, and preliminaries are established, we can complete your construction estimate with minimal input from you—helping you respond to clients faster and build confidence in your pricing.
Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 3.50 - $ 10.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 4.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.50 - $ 21.00 sqm
Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
BILL OF QUANTITIES ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 15 working days
A Bill of Quantities (BOQ) is a comprehensive, item-by-item breakdown of all the materials, labour, and construction tasks required to deliver a project. Instead of relying on rough allowances or assumptions, a BOQ converts your plans into precise, measurable quantities, giving you a clear and structured view of what’s involved and what it will cost. It becomes a single source of information that builders, clients, and subcontractors can rely on.
The real strength of a BOQ lies in the confidence it brings to your project. With detailed quantities and transparent costing, you can avoid the budget blowouts and misunderstandings that so often derail jobs. Pricing stays consistent across tenders, variations become easier to justify, and every party—builder, client, consultant, and contractor—starts from the same well-defined scope.
In short, a BOQ doesn’t just estimate a job; it sets the foundation for smoother communication, stronger client trust, and more profitable project delivery. It’s one of the smartest investments you can make before construction begins.
For every project we carry out an individual quantity take-off and the Bill Of Quantities is prepared from these quantities. You can choose two have the estimate supplied to you as a PDF, a CSV file to upload to your building management program, an Excel spreadsheet that you can manually adjust, or all of these formats.
Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.00 - $ 14.00 sqm
Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 8.00 - $ 20.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 9.00 - $ 25.00 sqm
Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 25.00 sqm
Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 27.00 sqm
Ordering an Estimate
Fee Proposals: Written fee proposals are provided for all projects. To order an estimate, clients need to email acceptance of the offer. Once confirmed, an invoice will be provided. The estimate will be commenced once the requested payment has been received .
Delivery: Completion of a Preliminary Estimate typically takes 7 working days from receipt of the payment. Architectural Estimates may take up to 15 working days from receipt of the deposit.
Here's the information you requested for inclusion in your job file:
Please include your client's name, the site address, your name, your business name and your phone number for inclusion in your job file. Also please advise us of who we should address the job invoice to.
Get Started Today
Please email us if you need more information or a sample estimate.
Email your drawings and specifications to us to receive a written fee proposal within two working days.
