If you’re currently overseeing a construction or renovation project, you’ll quickly come to realise that managing the finances can become both complicated and confusing. Understanding your build budget is crucial to keeping your build on track – the last thing you want is to stop mid-way due to budget issues. Why hire an estimator? Don’t worry, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know.
We recently covered how to build a home on a budget, highlighting the ways in which you can save yourself money and keep your costs on track.
But how? By hiring an independent building cost estimator, that’s how! We’ll tell you why…
An estimator will help create a realistic budget
Estimators will take everything into account – starting with your dream build. Your vision is important in order to understand the scope of the project and what’s involved. This included the ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ of a building project, your priorities and your ideal outcome.
As well as offering a clear and concise approach to creating a realistic budget, building cost estimators will help you to determine which elements can be elaborated upon, or scaled-down. For example, in our previous post regarding building a home on a budget, we talked about cost saving in the kitchen.
Save yourself the financial headache
Managing your finances in daily life can be tough enough! Let alone when it comes to your build project. There are so many things to consider, just where do you begin? It can be tricky to manage your build budget on your own for a number of reasons.
Firstly, just a couple of cost changes can throw off your entire budget. Where costs fluctuate, it can be difficult to keep on top of all the costs involved for the most accurate outcome. When you work with a cost estimator, a straight-forward breakdown of all the costs involved gives you everything you need to know.
Estimations can affect building schedules
In order to submit a tender to undertake and kickstart your build as timely as possible, your cost estimation needs to be as accurate as can be. Creating this type of building cost estimation yourself is both time consuming and often, strenuous! A professional estimator or cost estimating service will take a variety of factors into account, including:
- The materials and labour needed to complete the building project (including rates, material prices, hours etc)
- Contingency costs and variances
- Inflation costs
- Operation and maintenance costs
- Your desired outcome
This professional perspective will ensure all bases are covered from the very beginning – helping you to keep both your build and budget on track.
A cost estimator helps your building project run smoothly
As well as bringing peace of mind to your project in terms of budget, the right estimator will help you to understand the entire break down of your building cost. No stone is left unturned when it comes to hiring the right cost estimator.
As well as being accurate and timely, a cost estimator has the ability to work on a wide range of projects – including renovations, outbuildings, renovations, loft conversions and new builds. As long as you’ve provided sufficient detail, an estimator will be able to provide a comprehensive cost breakdown – tailored to your individual building project.
Are you looking for an estimator for your next project?
Whether you’re contemplating a building project or at the very beginning of your dream build, we’re here to help guide you through it. Our comprehensive estimates give a detailed breakdown of the costs involved to complete the job, from start to finish. So you can rest assured you’re starting a building project with all the information you could possibly need.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with our friendly team.
