Refer a customer
Introduce a customer who has drawings and needs a construction cost estimate, a measured materials report, or both. We confirm the scope and price before work starts.
Discuss a customer enquiryEstimating service for builders’ merchants
We estimate the job. You quote and supply the materials.
Introduce a customer who has drawings. We measure the project and prepare a construction cost estimate for the customer, a measured materials report for your quote desk, or both. Your team chooses the products, sets its prices, quotes the customer and supplies the order.
The customer gets a full project cost estimate. Your quote desk gets measured quantities without doing the takeoff in-house. Start with one customer or try the service on a few jobs. See how our estimating service works.
Material quantities
Part of jobMeasured fromReportStatusWho acts
GroundworksMeasuredQuantitiesReadyEstimator
MasonryMeasuredMaterialsReadyEstimator
TimberDrawingsMaterialsReviewMerchant
FinishesAllowanceNotesConfirmCustomer
For merchants whose customers have drawings but do not know the build cost or how much material they need.
Extensions
New builds
Renovations
Small commercial work
Start small
Start with one customer, or try it on a few jobs
Try it on a few jobs
Choose a few enquiries where the customer has drawings. We decide how to pass them across, which reports you need and who speaks to the customer. After a few jobs, you can judge whether the service helps your quote desk.
Discuss a merchant trialWhat we prepare from the drawings
From the customer’s drawings and project information, we prepare the construction estimate, measured materials report, or both.
For the customer
An itemised construction estimate
We build the estimate from labour, materials, plant and preliminaries. The customer sees how the cost is built up and which assumptions and exclusions apply.
- Measured quantities from their drawings
- Labour, materials, plant and preliminaries priced by work section
- Allowances, assumptions and exclusions shown in the estimate
Work Section Bill of Quantities
Cost Estimator
| Work section | Estimate amount |
|---|---|
| Main contractor’s preliminaries | |
| Excavating and filling | |
| In-situ concrete works | |
| Masonry | |
| Carpentry |
For your quote desk
A measured materials report for your team
The report lists the measured quantities by work section. Your team chooses the products, checks pack sizes and stock, sets its prices and prepares the supply quote.
- Measured quantities grouped by work section
- Missing specifications and customer choices flagged for checking
- Your team keeps control of products, merchant prices and delivery
Material Order Report
Cost Estimator
| Build phase | Material | Unit | Measured qty | Wastage | Total qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | Ready-mix concrete | m³ | |||
| Footings | Facing brick | Each | |||
| Footings | Engineering brick | Each | |||
| Structural framework | Sawn timber | m |
Before the first referral
What to decide before the first referral
Before the first job, we decide how you will send enquiries, which reports you need, who will speak to the customer and who will pay for the estimating work.
Which jobs should you refer?
We can estimate extensions, new builds, renovations and small commercial projects when the drawings and scope contain enough detail to measure the work.
What does the customer need to send?
Plans, elevations, sections, scope notes and specifications where available. Photos and schedules can help on refurbishment work.
What do you want us to prepare?
Choose a construction cost estimate, a measured materials report, or both. Each report shows its assumptions, allowances and exclusions.
Who handles each part?
We measure and estimate the job. You choose the products, check pack sizes and stock, set your prices and issue the final materials quote.
How it works
From customer drawings to your materials quote
Introduce the customer
Send the project details with their permission.
We measure the job
We check the information and prepare the construction cost estimate, measured materials report, or both.
You quote and supply
Your team chooses the products, checks stock and pack sizes, sets its prices and quotes the customer.
Who does what
What we handle, and what stays with you
We measure and estimate the job. Your quote desk selects the products, sets the prices and prepares the supply quote.
- We measure and estimateWe prepare the agreed construction cost estimate or measured materials report from the drawings and project information.
- We show what is missingWe flag assumptions, allowances, exclusions and missing specifications.
- You choose and price the productsYour team checks products, pack sizes, stock and substitutions.
- You issue the supply quoteYou set the merchant price, delivery terms and final materials quotation.
Common questions
What merchants usually ask us
What does the customer receive?
If they order a construction cost estimate, the customer receives an itemised estimate based on the drawings and information supplied. Assumptions and exclusions are shown.
What does the merchant receive?
If you ask for a measured materials report, your team receives material quantities grouped by work section. You then choose the products, set your prices and quote the customer.
How do we start?
Refer one customer with drawings or contact us about trying the service on a few jobs.
Can this connect to our software or use our branding?
Software integration and merchant branding are separate projects. We can discuss them after you have tried the referral service.
Have a customer with drawings?
Let us measure the job before you quote the materials.
Send us an example enquiry or tell us how customers currently send drawings to your team. We will explain how to refer the customer and start the estimating work.
