Estimating Services for Builders | Civilised Estimating

Helping you build smarter — not harder.

Running a building business in today’s construction climate isn’t easy. Between rising material costs, tight deadlines, skilled labour shortages, and high client expectations, every decision you make — and every dollar you spend — has to count.

Growing your business is even tougher. To take on more work, win better projects, and quote with confidence, you need solid systems, reliable support, and accurate cost information. That’s where Civilised Estimating comes in.

You might be asking — why outsource estimating when you could just do it yourself?

Simply put: it’s money well spent.

Our team of professional estimators helps builders like you successfully tender for projects, control costs, and free up your time to focus on what really matters — delivering top-quality builds, on time and on budget. With less stress, fewer mistakes, and better cash flow, you can build a stronger business and a solid reputation.

At Civilised Estimating, we don’t believe in “one-size-fits-all.” Every builder is different, and every job has unique challenges. That’s why we take the time to understand your workflow, your goals, and your market. We work with you to create a customised estimating solution that suits your business — and grows with it.

What services do we offer?

We support builders through every stage of the estimating process — from early budgeting to full tender packages. Whether you’re quoting a custom home, a renovation, an apartment complex, or a commercial project, we can help you stay competitive, professional, and in control.

A project manager looks at plans and decides to contact Civilised Estimating for a preliminary cost estimate

Preliminary Cost Estimates

Plan smarter, bid better.

Before you commit time and resources to a project, it’s helpful to get a broad understanding of the scope, cost, and potential profit margin. A Preliminary Cost Estimate gives you a high-level overview of the likely cost of a project — even from early-stage plans or sketches — so you can assess whether the job is worth pursuing.

We can work from:

Concept drawings

Rough sketches

Basic architectural plans

Early-stage client briefs

Our team uses real-world pricing, industry benchmarks, and has over 15+ years of experience from similar projects that we use to develop a clear and realistic estimate for you. This allows you to make smarter decisions early on, target the right jobs, and avoid investing time into tenders that don’t suit your business goals.

A project manager in their office discusses the detailed cost estimate provided by Civilised Estimating with a foreman

Detailed Cost Estimates

Quote with accuracy and confidence.

Once you’ve decided to move forward with a project, it’s time to get serious with the numbers. A Detailed Cost Estimate provides a comprehensive breakdown of the entire project, including materials, labour, plant, and subcontractors — everything you need to price your tender accurately and competitively.

We combine our 15+ years of industry knowledge with current market rates to deliver an estimate that reflects real-world costs. We’ll take your plans, specifications, and any client details to prepare a full cost breakdown that ensures you’re not underquoting and risking profit, or over-quoting and pricing yourself out. We ensure that you have a professional document ready for your client or builder portal submission

This kind of detail is critical when margins are tight and competition is fierce. Let us help you quote smarter — and win with confidence.

A builder uses a construction estimate provided by Civilised Estimating to confidently submit a quote on a residential project

Construction Estimates

The balance between big-picture and fine detail.

Sometimes, you don’t need the full depth of a detailed estimate — but you need more than just a rough figure. A Construction Estimate provides a practical overview of measurements, key trade costs, and materials without diving into every line item.

Ideal for mid-stage budgeting, concept planning, or builders who prefer to do their own quoting but want a head start, this service gives you the clarity to move forward without overcomplicating things.

It’s a flexible, time-saving solution that helps you:

Get reliable figures fast

Communicate better with clients

Compare project options

Make early design or scope decisions

We’ll tailor the level of detail to suit your needs and budget.

Builders confer over plans and decide to get a Bill of Quantities from Civilised Estimating to streamline the quoting process

Bill of Quantities

Get clear, accurate quantities for every trade.

When it comes to planning, ordering, or subcontracting, knowing your quantities is everything. A Bill of Quantities (BoQ) lists the measurable components of a build — like how many square metres of tiles you’ll need, how many linear metres of framing timber, or how many fixtures for plumbing.

This service is ideal for builders planning project budgets or subcontractors preparing quotes.

We prepare BoQs that are accurate, formatted for ease of use, and based on the latest construction standards. We use professional takeoff software and current codes to ensure your quantities are correct — saving you time, money, and headaches on site.

Plumbing tools and equipment in a layout on commercial plans used by a builder in conjunction with Trade take-offs

Trade Take-Offs

Know what you need before you need it.

Planning for multiple trades on a job can be complicated — especially when you’re juggling site timelines, supplier availability, and budget constraints. A Trade Take-Off gives you a clear picture of the trades you’ll need for the project and how much of each trade’s work is required.

It’s an essential tool for:

Scheduling trades effectively

Ordering materials

Avoiding scope creep

Staying on time and on budget

We break down your drawings to show trade-by-trade quantities and costings. This makes it easier for you to coordinate jobs, manage cash flow, and avoid costly surprises or delays.

Why Builders Choose Civilised Estimating

Real-world understanding

Our team has 15+ years experience in the field.

Tailored solutions

We adapt our work to your needs, not the other way around.

Competitive edge

Better quotes help you win more jobs and grow sustainably.

Professional presentation

Our documents make you look good to clients, developers, and banks.

More time on site

Free up your schedule to manage projects, teams, and client relationships.

No surprises

Clear pricing, agreed scope, and responsive service.

Don’t See What You Need?

If you don’t see the exact service you’re after, don’t worry — every builder works a bit differently.

We offer custom estimating solutions designed to fit your unique workflow. Whether you need editable spreadsheets, PDF summaries, or working files you can integrate into your systems — we’ll make it happen.

Got a project at an unusual stage? Need ongoing support across multiple tenders? Need help navigating client requests or VOs (variations)? We’re ready to help.

Contact Our Team

Let us take care of the estimating — so you can take care of building.

Whether you’re quoting your next project, planning for growth, or just want to get more of your time back, we’d love to support you.

Contact us today for your free consultation.

We’re here to help at or [email protected] — or just send through your plans and we’ll get back to you with a quote for services.