FAQ

Typically the construction budget and fixed-price contract, costs already incurred and remaining costs to complete, progress of construction against the amount being claimed, approved variations and other project costs, and whether sufficient funding remains to complete the development.

We work with banks and lenders, developers, builders, homeowners and owner-builders, and insurance professionals.

Yes. We are independent quantity surveyors. We do not build, develop or sell property, which keeps our assessments objective.

We work with projects across New Zealand, with local knowledge of NZ building codes and market rates.

Call us on +64 22 050 2939, email info@qsconsultants.co.nz or complete the enquiry form on our Contact page. We will confirm a fixed fee before work starts.

Yes. Our QS quotes are fixed price, transparent, with no hidden costs.

A full-rate estimate prices measured work at full market rates including materials. A labour-only estimate prices labour separately where materials are supplied by the owner. An elemental estimate prices a concept design by building element before the drawings are finished.

We provide your document list within 2 days of the request. Once we have the documents, the report is completed as soon as possible. Timing depends mostly on how complete the information is.

The borrower typically pays for the report, even though it is prepared independently for the lender's benefit. We give you a fixed-price quote up front so there are no hidden costs.

Yes. Tell us which lender you are working with and we will confirm their reporting expectations and tailor the report accordingly.

Yes. We prepare QS reports for lending, QS verification reports, QS reports for developments, QS certification reports for progressive drawdowns and QS reports for owner builds.

They overlap. A Bank QS report is prepared for a lender for funding purposes. A verification report focuses on confirming the accuracy of specific figures and can be used by lenders or owners.

Yes. We can verify a price after it has been accepted and tell you where the risk of extra cost sits.

Yes. A price that is too low is a risk for the owner and the lender because it often leads to variations and funding shortfalls. We will say so plainly.

It depends on the lender and the loan agreement. Most projects have a drawdown at each major stage or on a monthly cycle. We can work to whichever schedule your lender sets.

We will certify only what we can verify and explain why. Any difference is discussed in the report so it can be resolved between the builder and the borrower.

Yes. A site visit is how we confirm the work in place, so we attend before each drawdown certification.

A drawdown report is an independent assessment of the work completed on site, compared with the amount being claimed, so the lender can release the next stage of construction funds with confidence.

Keep variations priced, approved and documented, send progress claims promptly, and review the cost to complete regularly. Good cost monitoring helps identify budget issues early.

We focus on residential developments. Send us the details and we will confirm whether the project is a good fit.

Yes. We can issue reports to the borrower and the lender, and tailor the format to the lender's requirements.

No. We are independent quantity surveyors and do not build or manage construction. That independence is what makes our reports credible to lenders.

Yes. We can prepare a full cost estimate from your plans, or review and improve a budget you have already started.

Often they do, because there is no fixed contract price. A clear QS report is one way to give a lender confidence in the budget and the cost to complete.

We track variations and update the cost to complete at each drawdown so you can see the effect early.

Accuracy depends on how developed the design is. The more complete the drawings and specification, the tighter the estimate. We state our assumptions clearly.

Yes. Many clients use the estimate as an independent benchmark when reviewing quotes.

It can support a funding application, though many lenders also want a Bank QS report. We can provide both.

Because part of the cost depends on the condition of the existing building, which cannot always be seen. We allow for that with clear assumptions and a sensible contingency.

Yes. We can price alternatives, such as different finishes or scope, so you can compare.

Yes. We can check it against the plans and tell you what looks missing or unusually high or low.

Yes. We prepare estimates for residential additions and renovations, including demolition, making good and connecting to the existing building.

When you are supplying materials yourself or engaging trades directly, so you need to benchmark labour separately from materials.

Yes. We can provide a combined estimate so you can see the full cost.

It can support a funding application for an owner-build, and we can prepare a full QS report for the lender as well.

It is an early-stage estimate, so it carries a wider allowance than a measured estimate. It is designed to guide decisions, not to replace a full-rate estimate once the design is complete.

Yes. We can refine the estimate at each design stage and move to a full-rate estimate when drawings are complete.

Yes. It helps you test whether a project is likely to work financially before you commit.

An estimate says what the project is likely to cost. A budget sets what you are prepared to spend. A cost plan links the two and keeps them aligned.

As early as possible. Decisions made at concept stage have the biggest effect on final cost.

Yes. A clear cost plan helps a lender understand the budget, and we can follow it with a Bank QS report.

It is an assessment of how much money is still required to finish the project, based on work remaining and costs still to be incurred.

Yes. We can establish where the gap arose, how large it is and what options may be available to close it.

Typically at each drawdown or monthly. More frequent reviews make sense on larger or higher-risk projects.

A valuation estimates what a property would sell for. A rebuild estimate estimates what it would cost to reinstate the building, which is what matters for insurance.

Construction costs change over time, so reviewing at least every few years, and after any renovation, helps keep the sum insured appropriate.

Yes. We can issue the report in a format insurers and brokers can use, and speak with them if you wish.

It is an independent estimate of what it would cost to rebuild a property after a loss, considering the key costs associated with rebuilding. It helps owners and insurance professionals establish an appropriate rebuild value for insurance purposes.

No. Market value is what a property might sell for. Rebuild value is the cost of reinstating the building itself, and the two can be very different.

No. We provide quantity surveying and contract administration advice. If you need legal advice we recommend you speak with your lawyer.

We act for the client. That is what keeps our advice independent.

Yes. We can review the position to date and take over administration from there.