About Bespoke Estimating Services
Expertise in Construction Estimating
At Bespoke Estimating Services Ltd, our aim is to provide tailored estimating solutions that meet the unique needs of each project. We are dedicated to ensuring clarity and accuracy in every project we undertake, with a high level of attention to detail.
Our Services
We provide fully-costed, bespoke estimating solutions for all kinds of projects.
- Extensions and loft conversions
- Garage Conversions
- Refurbishment
- New Build Projects
Our estimate documentation is individually tailored to suit your needs.
- Written Quotations
- Cost Summary Analysis (CSA)
- Estimate Reports
- Completion of Tender Documents
- In House Tender Documentation
- Budget Costing
Why Work With Us?
We use professional take-off software, to accurately measure plan dimensions
We use our own in house rate calculation software, rather than third party estimating software.
We are a single point of contact, with experience tendering for more than 2000 projects.
We have hundreds of successful tenders and completed projects with good overall profit margin outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are fees not advertised on this website?
Fees are linked to the amount of hours to complete a project and the level of documentation we are required to provide. This is based on the scope, size and complexity of the project, including the number of drawings submitted in any drawing package. A small ground floor extension for example requires significantly less time to complete than a HMO or new build house.
Will you accept submission of a project without drawings?
We do not undertake projects without scalable plan drawings, as our service is underpinned by measured works, which means rate calculation based on accurate dimensions. If we have no plans to measure, we cannot provide accurate rates by measure.
Will you accept submission of planning drawings, without a stage 4 technical design ("Regs Drawings") and/or structural design?
Yes, however we will provide valuation in accordance with current standard building regulations. Once the stage 4 design is available, we will make amendments in accordance to the architectural design. We are not qualified to identify structural timber/steelwork sizes and calculations, so we make a nominal allowance, usually a PS (Provisional Sum Cost) allowance and then update once the structural design is available. In both instances we recommend that the end user client is advised the valuation is budget costed until we have full availability of design. We advise against signing contracts with an end user client, until this is process is fully completed.
Do you carry out site visits?
Yes we will carry out site visits and do on a regular basis. We either attend with the main contractor or are happy to liaise with the end-user client directly.
What documentation do you provide?
We adapt our documentation to suit your current business model. Our aim is to either increase the project win rate or take on the workload and maintain the current win rate, depending on your requirements. We can provide either our own detailed tender document of rates by measure, or we can provide estimate reports alongside a written quotation. We can adjust the presentation to suit your current style or we can produce one for you.
How do you cost supply of products?
We have a large database of standard and non standard material pricing. Some elements will be individually design driven and unique to each project. For bespoke supply items, we can either factor into our fees additional time to reach out for direct supplier quotation, or we can provide a rate based on the many quotations we have processed on prior projects. In some cases, time constraints will mean the latter, as awaiting supplier direct quotation can sometimes exceed the required tender return date. Elements such as piling, windows and doors, solar, air conditioning, scaffolding, etc, will be project unique; we will provide a cost that usually falls within the correct price range, but is always flagged as a PS cost, subject to direct quotation. Then the option is provided for us to request direct quotation at an additional fee or leave that to the main contractor/quantity surveyor.
How do you cost supply of labour?
We will request main contractor and subcontractor labour rates and use our in-house designed estimating software to calculate time allowances for each construction element. This then allows us to engineer rates by measure (square metre, linear metre, etc). Time and motion allowances are based on a previous construction and estimating experiences over thousands of projects, with full freedom to adjust as you see fit. This will be underpinned with an outline work duration by phase and project, which can then be cross-checked against your team size/daily costs and subcontractor quotations.
How do you provide costs mechanical and electrical?
An M&E design is preferred, however we will provide exact point and room allowances with all tender methods if an M&E design is not available. We take in a range of regional quotations from subcontractors and apply these against different projects. Electrics is priced by point, with additional line allowances for RCBOs, testing and certifications, strip out and rewire. Plumbing is priced by room, with additional allowances for strip out, boilers/pumps/cylinders re-plumbing, underfloor heating, radiators and re-pipes. M&E section valuations are always marked as PS costs, until the relevant subcontractor has carried out a site survey.
Do you provide quantity surveying services?
We do not provide quantity surveying services as all of our available time is largely dedicated to pre-contract tender and post contract technical support.
Will you offer technical assistance and design feedback?
Yes! We will advise regarding any cost impact based on the build up materials and also assist with elements such as thermal performance. If we can confirm a build up would more cost effective if changed, we will highlight this for review. We do not provide advice on structural design elements and certain safety driven aspects as we do not have the required liabilities. Any advice will be based on the current UK building regulation documentation and will still need to be reviewed and approved by both the principal designer and building control officer. We also flag any high value items if they have significant impact on the valuation. We have worked with contractors on build notice projects and are happy to liaise with building control.
What area do you cover?
We cover London and the Southeast of England
Do you work with developers, architects and end-users?
We regularly work with developers and architects. We only work with end users, if a main contractor has not been appointed. It is counter productive for both the end user client and main contractor to involve a third party estimator without mutual agreement.
How do you apply overheads and profit (OHP)?
We estimate rates on a three-way split of labour, plant machinery and materials, which are combined to produce rates for measured works. We then produce two copies, a nett project valuation and an OHP added valuation. The OHP added valuation is produced without visibility of OHP percentages and can be used as the tender submission.
How many estimators undertake the work and will I work with the same estimator on each project?
I am the sole estimator, which means continuity on every project.
What is the average turnaround for each project?
This can vary depending on project size, generally 10 working days. For more urgent tender returns, please contact us and we can advise if the lead-in can be moved forward.
Contact Us
Contact us for a no-obligation fee quotation
Bespoke Estimating Services Ltd
Hours
Today | Closed |
