Cost Planning
Cost Planning — Know Your Numbers Before You Commit.
Detailed cost planning and estimating for residential and commercial projects across London. Itemised, transparent and based on real drawings, real specifications and real market conditions.
Accurate cost intelligence from the start.
Without accurate cost planning, projects run over budget, scope creeps, and disputes follow. The earlier you understand the real cost of a project, the better decisions you can make — on design, specification, programme and procurement.
RCB provides itemised, transparent cost planning across all stages of a project. We are not guessing. We base our estimates on real drawings, real specifications, site visits and current market conditions. We document our assumptions and exclusions clearly, so you know exactly what you are pricing.
Whether you are at feasibility stage and need a sense of what is possible, or you have full working drawings and need a detailed estimate for contract, RCB can provide the cost intelligence you need.
What's included
How It Works
The RCB process for this service.
Brief & Drawings Review
We review your brief, available drawings and specification. We identify any gaps that would prevent accurate pricing and advise on what additional information is required.
Site Visit
For all estimates beyond ballpark, we visit the site. Site conditions, access, logistics and existing structures all affect cost. We need to see them.
Itemised Estimate
We prepare a fully itemised estimate against the agreed scope. Every element is broken out — no lump sums, no hidden contingencies, no surprises.
Review & Clarification
We walk through the estimate with you, explain our assumptions and exclusions, and answer questions. If the scope changes, we revise accordingly.
Contract & Delivery
The cost plan forms the basis of the contract. Variations are managed against the original scope — you always know what is changing and what it costs.
Planning & Regulations
Cost plans and estimates are based on the information provided at the time of preparation. Changes to design, specification, site conditions or programme will affect cost. RCB documents all assumptions and exclusions clearly. Provisional sums are used only where scope is genuinely undefined — they are labelled as such and reviewed as the project develops. Ballpark figures are indicative only and are not suitable for contract. A detailed estimate requires drawings, a site visit and a confirmed specification.
FAQs
Common questions.
What is the difference between a ballpark, estimate, quotation and tender?
A ballpark is a rough order of magnitude — useful for feasibility, not suitable for contract or detailed planning. An estimate is based on drawings, specification and a site visit — more accurate, but still contains documented assumptions. A quotation is detailed and itemised, based on a full and confirmed scope and specification. A tender is a formal response to a tender pack, pricing against a defined scope issued by the client or their consultant. RCB can provide all four, and will be clear about which you are receiving.
Why do two contractors give very different prices for the same job?
Pricing differences usually come from one or more of: different assumptions about scope, different specification levels, different approaches to risk and contingency, different overhead structures, or simply different levels of care in preparing the estimate. When we provide a cost plan, we document our scope and assumptions clearly — so you can make a like-for-like comparison against any other price you receive.
What are provisional sums and how do they affect my budget?
Provisional sums are allowances included in a cost plan where the scope is not yet fully defined. Common examples include groundworks (where ground conditions are unknown), electrical works (pending a full survey), or kitchen supply (where the client has not yet chosen a unit). Provisional sums should always be clearly labelled and documented — they are not fixed prices. RCB reviews and replaces provisional sums with firm prices as information becomes available.
Can RCB review quotes or tenders from other contractors?
Yes. RCB can review quotations and tender returns from other contractors, check scope coverage, identify exclusions and missing items, and provide a like-for-like comparison. This is particularly useful when you have received quotes that look very different in price and need to understand why.
Do you include materials in your estimates?
Yes — for structural and first-fix materials, materials are included in our estimates. For second-fix materials (tiles, sanitaryware, kitchen units, ironmongery, floor coverings and similar), our default position is client-supply unless procurement assistance is specifically requested and agreed. This is documented clearly in every estimate we produce.
Related services:
Ready to discuss your project?
Book a free project review or send your drawings for a detailed estimate.