Construction Cost Estimating Services
Comprehensive project budgeting, cost analysis, and financial feasibility studies from concept to construction.
Service Overview
Before a single shovel hits the dirt, owners, developers, and architects need to know if a project is financially viable. Our cost estimating services provide high-level budgeting and detailed cost projections at every stage of the design process. We specialize in conceptual estimating, schematic design budgets, and full construction document pricing. By leveraging historical cost data and current market labor rates, we help stakeholders make informed financial decisions, secure funding, and prevent expensive design-over-budget scenarios.
What We Estimate
- Conceptual and feasibility budgets
- Schematic Design (SD) estimates
- Design Development (DD) estimates
- Construction Document (CD) hard bids
- Parametric and square-foot cost modeling
- Value engineering and cost-reduction analysis
- Life-cycle cost analysis
- Material escalation forecasting
- General conditions and overhead projections
- Change order review and validation
Who We Serve
- Real Estate DevelopersDetermine project viability and establish reliable pro-forma numbers to secure financing.
- Architectural FirmsEnsure your designs remain within the client's budget throughout the drafting process.
- Project OwnersGet an independent, third-party cost assessment before signing contracts with general contractors.
- Lenders & InvestorsValidate proposed construction budgets to mitigate financial risk.
Our Estimating Process
Submit Project Plans
Send us your blueprints, drawings, or project specifications for a preliminary review.
Review & Quote
Our team analyzes the scope of work and provides a detailed quote and timeline.
Approval & Estimate
Once approved, we begin the comprehensive material takeoff and cost estimation process.
Delivered Project
You receive a fully detailed, bid-ready estimate delivered straight to your inbox.
What You Receive
- Executive summary and cost per square foot analysis
- Detailed CSI MasterFormat cost breakdown
- Value engineering recommendations
- Variance reports (comparing SD to DD budgets)
- Risk assessment and contingency recommendations
- Trade-by-trade cost summaries
Project Types
Why Choose Our Service
Prevent Budget Busts
We identify design choices that drive up costs early in the process, allowing architects to adjust before construction documents are finalized.
Independent Verification
Our third-party estimates provide an unbiased baseline to compare against contractor bids.
Data-Driven Decisions
We use massive, updated cost databases (like RSMeans) to ensure our pricing reflects current market realities, not outdated guesses.
Streamline Financing
Professional, detailed cost reports give banks and investors the confidence they need to approve project funding.
Related Estimating Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you provide an estimate from just a napkin sketch?
Yes, we can provide 'Conceptual Estimates' based on basic parameters (e.g., a 50,000 sq ft office building in Atlanta) using historical square-foot cost data.
What is the difference between a takeoff and a cost estimate?
A takeoff simply counts the materials (e.g., 10,000 bricks). A cost estimate applies the material price, labor cost, equipment, overhead, and profit to those bricks to provide a final dollar amount.
Do you update the budget as the design changes?
Yes, we typically provide progressive estimates at the SD, DD, and CD phases, providing a 'variance report' to show exactly why costs changed between phases.
What cost databases do you use?
We utilize industry-standard databases like RSMeans, combined with our own proprietary historical data and local market subcontractor feedback.
Build Your Budget on Solid Ground
Contact us today to discuss your project's financial feasibility and budgeting needs.