NEW HOMES
ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS
UNITS & APARTMENTS
QUEENSLAND NEW SOUTH WALES VICTORIA TASMANIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CHOOSING YOUR ESTIMATE TYPE
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
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Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 1.00 - $ 5.00 sqm
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Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 1.00 - $ 4.00 sqm
ARCHITECTURAL ESTIMATES
​Average delivery time 10 working days
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 3.50 - $ 10.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 4.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
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Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.50 - $ 21.00 sqm​​
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Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
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Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
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CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 10 working days
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 3.50 - $ 10.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 4.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
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Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.50 - $ 21.00 sqm
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Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
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Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 16.00 sqm
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BILL OF QUANTITIES ESTIMATES
Average delivery time 15 working days
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Designer Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 5.00 - $ 12.00 sqm
Designer Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 6.00 - $ 14.00 sqm
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Architectural Homes and Knock-Down Rebuilds $ 8.00 - $ 20.00 sqm
Architectural Home Additions, Alterations and Renovations $ 9.00 - $ 25.00 sqm
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Apartments, Townhouses and Units $ 3.00 - $ 25.00 sqm
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Offices, Factories, Retail Premises, Child Care, Aged Care and Schools $ 3.50 - $ 27.00 sqm​​​
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
