Sector 05 / Construction estimating

Mixed-use developments
estimating.

Cost planning and trade estimating for projects combining residential, retail and commercial uses, with shared works allocated clearly.

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Australia-wide service · Scope agreed before work starts

Mixed-use apartments and ground-floor retail with architectural linework — Sector illustration

A practical starting point

Different uses. One coordinated construction scope.

Mixed-use developments share structure and infrastructure while carrying different fit-out standards and operational requirements. Estimax separates the residential, commercial and shared portions of the project so the cost of each can be reviewed without losing the connections between them.

We work with builders, developers and consultants from early design through tender. Architectural zoning, structural information, services diagrams and tenancy briefs establish the basis of the estimate. A clear allocation of common plant, basements, podiums and public areas helps support budget decisions and procurement discussions.

01 / Project types

Projects we estimate.

Apartments over retail
Residential & office developments
Mixed-use podium buildings
Neighbourhood centres with housing
Multi-stage urban developments
Live-work buildings
Mixed-use refurbishments
Shared-basement developments

02 / What we measure

From the drawings
to the work packages.

The take-off follows the information issued for your project. Each element is separated by its type, specification and location where the documentation allows.

Shared substructure

Basements, excavation, retention, foundations and below-ground drainage across the agreed development boundary.

Structure & transfer zones

Concrete, reinforcement, formwork and steel, distinguishing podium, transfer and typical-floor construction.

Envelope by use

Façades, roofing, glazing and balconies measured by system and building zone rather than one blended rate.

Residential & commercial interiors

Dwelling finishes, tenancy provisions, amenities and joinery separated by use and handover condition.

Common services

Central plant, risers, distribution, metering and fire systems, with tenancy connections and builder's work identified.

Public & shared spaces

Lobbies, circulation, landscaped podiums, loading areas, access roads and public-realm interfaces within the documented scope.

Measured quantities and provisional allowances are identified separately. Missing design information is recorded so it can be resolved rather than hidden in a total.

03 / Estimating services

PlannedMeasuredPriced

Choose the service that matches the decision you need to make and the detail available in your drawings.

Pre-construction cost planning

Compare the cost contribution of each use, the shared structure and the common services while design choices remain open.

Preliminary budgets
Design option comparisons
Design development allowances
Budget review notes

Quantity take-offs

Measure quantities by zone, level and trade, retaining a separate common-works schedule for shared construction.

Measurements
Trade breakdowns
Drawing references
Scope and quantity notes

Tender estimating

Build a coordinated tender breakdown that identifies package overlaps, stage boundaries and the scope included in each tenancy handover.

Detailed trade pricing
Agreed labour & material allowances
Received quotation comparisons
Assumptions & exclusions

04 / Documentation we review

The right information.
A clearer estimate.

Send the latest coordinated set you have, together with the drawing register and known changes. We confirm what can be assessed from that issue and what needs an allowance or clarification.

Early plans are a starting point for cost planning. Detailed take-offs and tender pricing require enough design and specification information to define the work.

Zoning & architectural plans: Use boundaries, floor arrangements, common areas and tenancy schedules.
Structural design: Basement, podium, transfer and typical-floor details.
Services strategy: Central plant, risers, metering and distribution boundaries.
Handover briefs: Residential selections and commercial shell or fit-out requirements.
External works: Civil, landscape, podium waterproofing and public-realm drawings.
Staging & procurement: Package scopes, construction stages, specifications and addenda.

05 / Trade-by-trade estimating

See where the cost sits.

A two-level breakdown can group work by construction trade and by building use. This makes shared plant, structure and external works traceable without counting them in multiple tenancy packages.

Basement & substructure

Podium & superstructure

Envelope

Residential interiors

Commercial & common-area interiors

Shared services & external works

Allocation

How are common works shown against each use?

Handover

Is each tenancy shell-only or fully fitted?

Staging

Which infrastructure serves more than one stage?

06 / What you receive

Information you can
actually work with.

Understand the separate cost drivers of each use while retaining one coherent estimate for the overall development.

Your quote sets out the agreed deliverables. A quantity-only take-off does not include a priced estimate unless pricing is part of the brief.

Your agreed estimating package

Measured quantities for the agreed scope
Trade-by-trade breakdown
Drawing and document references
Clear assumptions & exclusions
Cost breakdown for priced commissions
Outstanding information and allowance notes

Confirm your preferred format

Tell us if you need Excel, PDF, marked-up drawings or a separate labour and material split. We confirm availability and inclusion in the scope before work starts.

07 / Who we work with

Built around your role in the project.

We agree the scope around the packages you are responsible for, whether you are coordinating the whole project or pricing a single part of it.

Property developers
Head contractors
Development managers
Architects
Services consultants
Construction project managers

08 / How it works

Simple to start.
Thorough from there.

A defined brief, a clear document issue and an agreed delivery date give the estimate a useful basis from the outset.

UPLOAD YOUR DRAWINGS

Upload your drawings

Send the current drawings, specifications and project brief through our quote form. Include the site location and your required delivery date.

We review the documentation

We check the available design information, document revisions and any gaps that affect what can be measured or priced.

Scope & quote confirmed

We agree the estimating service, package boundaries, deliverables, fee and timing with you before proceeding.

Estimating & take-off

We measure the agreed work, organise the trade packages and develop pricing where it forms part of the confirmed service.

Internal review

Your agreed package identifies drawing references, assumptions, inclusions and allowances for your review.

Estimate delivered

You receive the agreed package with its pricing basis, assumptions and outstanding information clearly recorded.

09 / Why Estimax

Construction thinking.
Clear documentation.

Useful estimating connects the drawings to the way the work is procured and built. The result needs to explain its basis as clearly as it presents its quantities and costs.

Review the detail

Read drawings, specifications and schedules together. Keep references with the work and raise scope questions where the information does not align.

Keep scope visible

Separate trade packages, identify interfaces and state allowances. Make the construction scope behind a number available for review.

Work across Australia

Share documentation digitally. Confirm the project location, access conditions and pricing basis so local requirements can be considered in the brief.

Ready when you are

Ready to price
your next project?

Upload your drawings and project documentation and let Estimax review the scope.

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