Self Build Estimates

Planning to build your own home or manage a residential development? Tate & Sons provides accurate, itemised self build estimates to help owner-builders, designers, and developers gain cost certainty before construction begins.

With experience across over 6,000 projects nationwide, we help eliminate cost overruns and provide clarity on labour, material, and plant requirements at every stage.

What is a Self Build Estimate?

A self build estimate is a professional cost breakdown prepared by a Quantity Surveyor based on your design plans, scope, and local construction market conditions. The estimate includes detailed costings by trade, allowing you to plan and manage your budget with confidence.

Whether you're working from concept plans, DA-approved drawings, or full construction documentation, a self build estimate ensures you understand the full cost implications before starting work.

Who is it for?

Our self build estimates are tailored for:

Owner-builders who require independent cost advice before committing to a build
Developers needing early-stage feasibility or budgeting support
Architects and designers looking to align designs with budget
Clients seeking finance, where lenders require an independent cost report

What does the report include?

Our self build estimate reports are detailed, structured, and easy to understand. Each estimate is prepared using current construction market rates and tailored specifically to your drawings and project scope. Reports are typically broken down by trade and construction stage, giving you a realistic and fully itemised view of your expected costs.

Your report will include:

A trade-by-trade Bill of Quantities (BoQ) outlining measured quantities for each element of work
Full labour, material, and plant cost breakdowns based on your location and construction method
Preliminaries, site establishment, access, and overhead allowances
Contingency sums and provisional items for unknowns or incomplete design details
Cost comparison options for alternative finishes or build approaches
Structured format to support finance applications, council submissions, or tender negotiations

Whether you're at concept stage or preparing for construction, our reports give you clarity, confidence, and control over your budget.

Why use Tate & Sons?

Tate & Sons has delivered over 6,000 cost plans and estimates across Australia, working with everyone from first-time owner-builders to experienced developers and architects. Our team brings together deep industry knowledge, up-to-date market data, and a commitment to making complex cost information accessible and practical.

Clients choose us because:

We provide fixed-price estimate services with no hidden extras
Our reports are tailored, detailed, and aligned with your specific build stage
We offer fast turnaround times without compromising accuracy
We’re available post-report to answer questions, explain assumptions, or adjust pricing as your plans evolve
Our practical experience means we understand construction challenges, not just cost codes

Why Choose Tate & Sons for Your BOQ Needs?

With Tate & Sons, you are not just getting numbers you are getting expert support throughout your self build journey.

FINDABUILDA

FINDABUILDA is a dedicated initiative by Tate & Sons to help owner-builders, developers, and designers connect with reliable, pre-vetted builders suited to their specific project.

After completing your self build estimate, we can refer you to experienced builders who match your budget, location, and construction type.

All referrals are made through our trusted network and include builders who understand and work with detailed Quantity Surveyor reports.

This optional referral service helps reduce the risk of budget blowouts, improves transparency in pricing, and ensures your selected builder can work confidently to the project cost plan we have prepared.