Frequently Asked Questions
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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What kind of service is provided in a preliminary agreement?
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What order foes all of this happen in and what do I do next?
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Why don’t we provide a square meterage rate?
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Other builders provide a free quote, why do you charge a fee?
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Do we provide an alternative to this model?
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What documents are required for a quote or estimate and how long does it take?
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How much do you charge for a cost plan / quote?
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What is the difference between a Bill of quantity(BoQ) provided by a Quantity
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Surveyor (QS) and a builder’s quote?
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What are Prime Cost (PC) and Provisional Sums (PS)?
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How PC and PS can affect the contract price?
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Do we need architectural plans, design concepts and working drawings for our project?
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What is Soil Testing and why do I need it?
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What are engineer’s plans? I thought we have those already?
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What is council approval or certification, and do I need that?
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What is an Identification Survey, why do I need one?
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What is Contour and Detail survey?
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Dial before you dig searches?
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Town planning and overlay constraint?
What Kind of Service is Provided In a Preliminary Agreement?
Preliminaries (or prelims) provide a description of a project that allows the builder to assess the work required and prepare a scope or cost analysis.
Depending on what stage the client is at, some of the preliminary work provided by Browning Build Group may include:
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Evaluation of existing dwelling and the client's design requirements
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Detailed and Contour survey
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Identification Survey
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Soil or geotechnical report
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Engaging of designer/architect to draw up concept design and working drawings
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Engineering design and specifications
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Cost analysis/Quoting
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Town planning advice (DA) or (CDC) Certification – council and building approvals (BA)
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Other specialist consultant reports
A client in the early stages of planning a renovation, or who has not yet engaged a designer/architect, may require us to complete some or all of the above tasks. If the client already has these documents in place, Browning Build Group may instead be required to review them and provide an accurate quote.
What order does all of this happen in and what do I need to do next?
In most cases, clients get in touch with us with only rough ideas (sometimes more detailed) about their project — and that’s perfectly fine, this is what we specialise in. The first step is a free on-site consultation and project assessment. From there, we’ll guide you through the process and let you know what documentation is required.
Here’s the typical order of events for most renovations and extensions (note: some steps may not be required, or you may already have them completed):
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On-site project assessment – meeting with the client to discuss your project
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Preliminary agreement is signed, outlining what documentation you require to be able to start the project
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From here, we take care of the rest
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Architectural plans – concept drawings – working drawings
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Soil test (extensions, earthworks, structural concreting or footings)
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Engineer's plans and specifications (the backbone to the build)
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Cost analysis / take-offs / quoting
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Contract signing
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Certification – building approvals
Why don’t we provide a square meterage rate?
We get asked this a lot: “How much is it per square metre?”
The reality is, for a custom-built project there’s no set rate. No two projects are ever the same — every site, design, and client is different.
A square metre rate can sometimes be useful at the very beginning to help with a-rough starting budget. For example, if a client has a set budget, the size of the building can be estimated by dividing that budget by a square metre rate. However, this figure must always be verified by the builder through a proper quote. More often than not, the rate used at the start of the design process ends up being very different to the final cost.
Our Pre-construction Process
We ensures every project begins with financial clarity and precision. It’s designed to confirm the client’s budget aligns with the true cost of construction, avoiding wasted time, unnecessary delays, or financial misalignment later in the build.
Step 1: Budget Qualification
We begin with a QBE Qualified Build Estimate to validate the client’s budget. This step determines whether the proposed funds are realistic for the intended scope of work, ensuring that both the builder and the homeowner have a clear financial framework before any design or documentation progresses.
Step 2: Final Build Estimate
Once the budget is confirmed, we prepare an FBE. This provides an extended construction cost breakdown, outlining all major components, materials, and allowances. The estimate forms the foundation for trade and supplier engagement, helping builders present a transparent cost structure to their clients.
Step 3: Trade & Supplier Confirmation
After receiving the Elemental Estimate, builders proceed to confirm quotations with trades and suppliers. This stage validates real-world costs, including materials, labour, and subcontractor pricing.
Once all quotations are received and reviewed, the builder can finalise the total construction cost with confidence.