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Email us your planning drawings, sketches or preliminary designs. PDF, DWG or image files all accepted.
Estimating Services
Budget Estimates & Cost Plans
Quick, reliable cost guidance from your planning drawings. Know your budget before you commit.
Early-Stage Cost Guidance You Can Rely On
A budget estimate gives you a clear picture of likely build costs before you commit to detailed design work. Also known as an outline cost plan, it transforms basic planning drawings into a realistic cost range that helps you make informed decisions about your project.
Our qualified Quantity Surveyors analyse your drawings, apply current market rates and deliver a professionally formatted cost breakdown within 2-3 working days. Whether you need to assess project feasibility, support a funding application or simply understand what your build is likely to cost, a budget estimate is the ideal starting point.
Budget estimates are used by homeowners planning extensions, developers assessing site viability, architects advising clients on design costs, and builders pricing potential work before committing resources to a full tender.
Get a Budget Estimate
Simple Process
How Budget Estimating Works
We Review & Quote
Our team reviews your project scope and provides a fixed-price quotation for the estimating work.
Cost Analysis
Our Quantity Surveyors measure your drawings and apply current market rates to produce a cost breakdown.
Receive Your Estimate
You receive a professionally formatted PDF with elemental cost breakdown, summary and supporting notes.
Deliverables
What’s Included in Your Budget Estimate
Elemental cost breakdown by trade
Summary page with total project cost range
Contingency allowance recommendation
Exclusions and assumptions clearly stated
Professional fees guidance
Editable PDF format for sharing
Transparent Pricing
Budget Estimate Pricing
Budget Estimates From
£75
Final price depends on project size and complexity. We always provide a fixed-price quotation before starting.
View Full PricingClient Feedback
What Our Clients Say
First4Estimating gave us the confidence to move forward with our extension. Their detailed breakdown meant we could compare builder quotes line by line rather than just looking at a bottom-line figure. We ended up saving thousands by spotting gaps in one contractor’s pricing.
Common Questions
Budget Estimate FAQ
Budget estimates typically fall within 15-20% of the final build cost. They provide a reliable cost range for feasibility assessment, funding applications and early-stage budget setting.
For greater accuracy, we recommend progressing to a full building regulation estimate once detailed drawings are available.
We can work from basic planning drawings, sketch designs or even hand-drawn plans. Floor plans and elevations are ideal, but we can provide indicative costings from whatever information you have available.
The more detail you provide, the more accurate the estimate. Send us what you have and we will advise on the best approach.
Budget estimates are typically delivered within 2-3 working days from acceptance of our quotation. For urgent requests, we can often accommodate same-day or next-day turnaround.
Contact us to discuss your timeline and we will do our best to meet your deadline.