How to use the Fee Estimator
Prepare a current construction-value or time basis, scope, programme, procurement route, consultant responsibilities and known risk factors before building a fee range.
The workspace starts blank. Load example temporarily fills the controls with demonstration data; reload or use the tool’s New or reset action, where provided, before entering live information.
- Choose Project / commission type, enter Construction value and your own low and high fee percentages, then cite the estimate or cost-plan reference.
- Write the scope summary and enter explicit complexity, refurbishment, schedule and delivery or commercial risk adjustments.
- Add fixed or additional services, subconsultants, reimbursables and any optional tax or addition as separate values.
- Allocate the service-stage fee, state assumptions, exclusions and change triggers, then review the full Fee range rather than one preferred total.
Worked examples
These examples explain the set-up, expected output and review needed without changing the tool workspace.
Residential renovation scenario
- Set-up
- Use a current cost plan, enter a practice-defined fee range and record survey uncertainty, occupied-site working and programme risk separately.
- Result
- The output shows the adjusted range, stage allocation and other allowances with assumptions.
- Review
- Compare the implied staff time and deliverables with the actual resource plan before turning it into a proposal.
Base percentage comparison
- Set-up
- For a construction value of 750,000, compare a 7–9 percent base range before adding consultants, reimbursables or tax.
- Result
- The unadjusted base range is 52,500–67,500, making later risk and scope additions visible.
- Review
- Treat the percentages as your scenario inputs, not as market benchmarks supplied by the tool.
Suggested workflow
Place the tool in a controlled project or practice process rather than treating its output as an isolated verdict.
- Define deliverables, responsibilities and programme, then choose a defensible internal pricing basis.
- Model scope, risk and pass-through costs transparently and test the result against resource time.
- Issue a proposal that states services, assumptions, exclusions, payment terms and change control.
Check before saving or issuing
- Construction value and cost-plan reference are current and use the intended currency and tax basis.
- Stage allocations total the fee basis and match the service actually offered.
- Subconsultants, expenses, exclusions and change triggers are not hidden inside the percentage.
Common problems
- Fee grows unexpectedly: inspect each percentage adjustment and confirm whether it compounds or adds under the displayed method.
- Stage values do not support delivery: compare them with planned hours and seniority, not only the percentage split.
- Client reads the range as a quote: label the exercise as internal until scope and commercial terms are agreed.
Output
A transparent stage service and fee work plan with assumptions and totals.
Professional boundary
This is not a market benchmark or fee proposal; validate scope, procurement, program, risk, taxes and contract terms for the commission.