Insights and guides
Estimating, priced and explained.
Plain-talking guides on cost estimating, tender pricing and quantity surveying, written for builders, contractors and developers who price real jobs.
In short
Our insights section is a growing library of practical guides on construction cost estimating, tender pricing, bills of quantities and quantity surveying for UK builders and developers.
Start with one of our in-depth guides, then follow the shorter reads that go deeper on each topic. Everything is written from a builder's point of view, with no jargon and no sales pitch.
Start with a guide
Our in-depth guides cover a whole topic end to end, with the shorter cluster posts linked from each one.
The Complete Guide to Construction Cost Estimating in the UK
What cost estimating is, the types of estimate and their accuracy, how the take-off and measurement work, and how to price labour, materials and plant with confidence.
4 related posts in this series
How to Price a Construction Tender (and Win More of Them)
Read the documents properly, measure the work, price labour, materials and plant, add prelims and margin, and present a tender that wins on more than just price.
3 related posts in this series
QS vs Estimator vs Estimating Service: Which Do You Actually Need?
What a quantity surveyor does, what an estimator does, and what a pay-per-project estimating service offers, with clear guidance on which fits your business.
1 related post in this series
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Estimator or Quantity Surveyor?
Indicative UK salary bands, day rates, QS fees and per-project pricing, plus the hidden on-costs of employment and a simple break-even to find the cheapest route for you.
2 related posts in this series
Quick reads
Shorter, focused articles on specific estimating questions.
What Is a Bill of Quantities and When Do You Need One?
What a bill of quantities actually contains, how it is structured, and the projects where it earns its keep.
Read it Cost estimatingHow to Read a Set of Construction Drawings for Pricing
The drawing types, scales and symbols you need to read confidently before you price a single line.
Read it Cost estimatingFixed Price vs Estimate: What Is the Difference?
What a fixed price commits you to, how an estimate differs, and when each one is the right call.
Read it Cost estimatingWhat RICS NRM Means for Your Estimate
What the RICS New Rules of Measurement are, how the volumes fit together, and why they make estimates more reliable.
Read it TenderingWhy Builders Lose Money on Quotes (and How to Stop)
Most lost margin is decided before you win the job. Here are the quoting habits that quietly eat your profit and how to fix them.
Read it TenderingHow to Quote Faster Without Cutting Corners
Speed and accuracy are not opposites. With the right structure you can return solid tenders quickly without gambling on your margin.
Read it TenderingCommon Estimating Mistakes That Cost You the Job
From missed prelims to vague scope, these are the estimating mistakes that quietly cost builders the job or the margin, and how to avoid them.
Read it CostsThe True Cost of an In-House Estimator
Salary is only the start. We break down the real annual cost of an in-house estimator and the workload you need to make the role pay.
Read it CostsWhen to Outsource Your Estimating
Outsourcing estimating is a capacity and cash decision. Here are the clear signs it is the right move and how to brief an outside estimator well.
Read it GuidanceHow Developers Use Cost Plans to Appraise a Site
A cost plan turns a site appraisal from guesswork into a defensible number. Here is how developers use one to test whether a scheme actually stacks up.
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