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Estimating fundamentals

Construction estimate review checklist.

Before any estimate is submitted to a client or used for a tender, it should be reviewed systematically. This checklist helps catch omissions, errors, and inconsistencies.

Who this guide is for

Estimators doing a final quality check, quantity surveyors reviewing colleagues' work, and contractors who want to standardise their review process.

Review checklist

• Scope: Have all items from the drawings and specification been included?
• Quantities: Are the measured quantities correct and arithmetically checked?
• Rates: Are unit rates current and appropriate for the specification?
• Subcontractors: Have all subcontract quotations been received and compared?
• Materials: Have supplier prices been confirmed within the validity period?
• Preliminaries: Are site-specific preliminaries adequately covered?
• Overheads and profit: Have the correct margins been applied?
• Exclusions: Are assumptions and exclusions clearly stated?
• Validity: Is the estimate date and validity period stated?

Miniature example

During review of a £185,000 extension estimate, the estimator spots that drainage has been priced using standard connection charges but a sewer diversion is needed. The oversight adds £8,500 to the estimate. The review checklist catches this before submission.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the review due to time pressure and submitting errors
• Reviewing only the arithmetic without checking for omitted items
• Not having a second person review before submission