http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.mtestimating.com en-us Tue, 05 May 2026 06:37:42 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/151841/more-than-just-numbers/ There's more to making a cost estimate than just numbers. The bottom line is of course the most important number, telling you how much you need to borrow is the first and most obvious bit of information a Cost Estimate is telling us and that's fine. Some people are happy with that information and can move forward with their financing and build from there - or not.For a while, I was satisfied with producing the most accurate and comprehensive Cost Estimates I could and handing that over to m... Tue, 09 Sep 2025 10:25:16 +1200 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post151841 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/149715/a-i-in-q-s/ First , a full disclaimer. No A.I. was used in any aspect of writing, researching or proofreading this article. So expect it to have a few human-style flaws in it.... Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:22:24 +1200 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post149715 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/147031/new-strategic-focus-and-advisory-q-s-services/ I am pivoting away from just producing numbers for your Cost Estimates, useful as they are and am adding more meaning behind them as part of a uptick in what I produce to get strategic thinking around the numbers before construction even begins.... Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:35:24 +1200 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post147031 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/143718/design-dilemmas/ I  recently did a Cost estimate for the client of an Architect from a Sketch design drawing.I remember it was a beautiful split level house drawn by an overseas architect, similar in style to those mid-century designs from America in the 1950’s.The NZ Architect and Clients wanted an idea as to how this would translate in cost , if built now , on a NZ site.The cost plan came out much as i expected. It wasn’t cheap. Never was going to be.I heard the Clients shelved the project as it was m... Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:04:14 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post143718 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/143189/estimating-costs-of-building-during-design/ Traditionally, Quantity Surveyors and Estimator are not considered part of the design process as are other professional services like Architects and Engineers.My view from over 30 years experience as an Estimator is that a relatively small amount of money spent in looking at costs right from Concept design and planning can and often does, save exponentially more cost down the road during the latter stages of design, selecting contractors and builders and of course, during construction.... Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:59:11 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post143189 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/142698/renovation-cost-blowouts-are-unnecessary/ There is probably not a week that goes by when I am not talking to someone about a renovation job that exceeded the expected budget, sometimes catastrophically and significantly.I have real-life examples where the cost has doubled or the full cost has been reached and the job is a little over halfway complete.Well, it doesn’t have to be that way.These, in my experience, are the top reasons why there are such huge (and frequent) cost overruns on renovation and refurbishment building projects.No... Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:18:28 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post142698 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/141108/creating-interest-and-competition-at-tender-time/ Recently, i was reading an article on the advantages of using a Schedule of Quantities for tendering by another Quantity Surveyor and i can across a phrase that caught my attention. It said “providing a schedule of quantities to Tenderers will generate more interest”…More interest? Why would it do that?My first thought was that by providing a s.o.q. Means the tenderer does not have the added cost of paying somebody else to measure all of the items and there quantities from the drawings.Tha... Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:06:01 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post141108 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/125791/hourly-rates-are-good-arent-they/ I had recently come across a line in a building contract which read " you will only be charged for the hours that are used".I was stunned for a while after reading that. I must have read it wrong. No, I read it again and the self-evident statement was still there.It is a relief I suppose, that you will only be charged for the hours that are used. Right?There were also some rates noted in there , which were quite reasonable as well. ... Tue, 19 Mar 2024 15:34:56 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post125791 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/111360/cost-impact-of-incomplete-design-in-buildings/ Recently, a client approached me with a predicament. They had signed a contract with a group housing company to build a new house, but there was a significant issue – the design work had not been completed at the time of contract signing. As a result, much of the geotechnical and civil engineering design work was done well after the contract was agreed upon. This late-stage design change significantly altered the scope of work initially agreed upon, and with it came a host of potential problem... Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:41:15 +1300 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post111360 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/post/110464/can-i-help-you/ Why do I do this? Why do I? Why am I a quantity surveyor?Unlocking the Role of a Quantity Surveyor: Beyond the NumbersEver wondered why I chose to become a Quantity Surveyor, often referred to as a cost estimator? In essence, my role revolves around helping individuals and businesses achieve their building goals while staying within a realistic budget. Let me shed light on what this profession entails.At its core, being a Quantity Surveyor means being the guardian of budgets and project feasibil... Wed, 20 Sep 2023 14:04:23 +1200 http://www.mtestimating.com/blog/#post110464