Pre-Contract Services
Know what it costs before you commit
A construction budget can be set early, when the least is known about the project. By the time tenders come back, the design has moved on and the prices may not match the budget. Pre-contract quantity surveying helps close that gap. We price the project as the design develops, so decisions are based on real numbers.
AMS Quantity Surveying works with developers, main contractors and building owners. Our pre-contract work covers the stages from the first concept estimate up to the construction contract.
Cost estimation at every stage
The type of estimate depends on the stage of the design. Early on we prepare concept drawing cost estimates, then elemental estimates as the drawings develop. Before tender, a detailed estimate gives you a figure to check the tenders against.
Explore Cost Estimation→
Procurement and contract advice
We advise on the procurement route, such as traditional lump sum, design and build, construction management or early contractor involvement. The right route depends on how far the design has got and how much cost certainty you need before you commit. We also advise on the form of contract.
Explore Procurement & Contract Advice→
Tender documentation and analysis
Tender documents, such as schedules of quantities and trade breakdowns, let every builder price the same scope. When the tenders come back, our tender analysis shows what each price covers and what a low price may have left out.
Explore Tender Documentation→
What you receive
The documents we prepare
Which ones you receive depends on the scope of the work.
- A concept drawing cost estimate or an elemental estimate
- A cost plan, structured by element
- A schedule of quantities or trade breakdown for tendering
- A tender analysis comparing the tenders you receive
How it works
How a pre-contract engagement runs
- 01
Get in touch
Send us your drawings at any stage, with a description of the project. Concept sketches are enough to get started.
- 02
Where things stand
We look at what you've sent and tell you what we can produce from it.
- 03
Prepare the work
We prepare the estimate or documents, and ask you questions as they come up.
- 04
Talk it through
You get the finished work, and we can talk you through what it means.
Who this is for
Who we work with
- We work with developers on cost planning and tender documentation.
- For main contractors, we offer pricing support and contract advice.
- Building owners can get an early view of what a project will cost.
- Architects and project managers can get cost advice as the design develops.
Why AMS
Why bring us in before committing
Your own figure to test tenders
The estimate is prepared for you, so you have your own figure to compare tender prices against.
Advice before you sign
We help you choose a procurement route and contract before you commit, so you can see the cost side of what you're agreeing to.
Room to change the design
An estimate during design shows what each part of the project costs. If the total is too high, you can change some parts rather than drop the whole project.
Where to next
Already building, or pricing the work?
Once construction starts, our post-contract services cover contract administration, payment claims, variations and final accounts. If you are a builder or subcontractor pricing work, see our measurement and estimating services.
Frequently asked questions
Which stage of pre-contract work do I actually need?
It depends on the decision you need to make. Deciding whether a project is worth developing further needs different work from checking tender prices against an estimate. If you're not sure which you need, tell us about the decision and we can point you to the right service.
What is the difference between a quantity surveyor and an estimator?
The terms overlap. Tahatū, the New Zealand government's career website, lists estimator as another name for a quantity surveyor. It says quantity surveyors manage finances for construction projects, and estimating is one part of that. Our own work also covers measurement, procurement and contract advice, and the commercial side of a project once it's underway.
What if the tenders come back over budget?
A tender analysis can show why the tenders are over budget. The gap may come from missed or misread items, or from the price of the work itself.
Where in New Zealand do you work?
We work anywhere in New Zealand.
Need a quantity surveyor for your next project?
Send through your plans or a short description of the project and we will come back to you.