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When the numbers stop making sense
Value engineering and cost review for homes, renovations and duplexes in Sydney. When a project has moved beyond its budget, or a builder’s quote has come in too high, we look at how the design, structure, specification and sequencing are driving the cost, and what deserves attention next. Better value, not simply cheaper.
The design may be right. The numbers may not be.
A project can become hard to build for reasons that are not obvious in the drawings:
- the scope has grown since the first budget
- allowances and provisional sums are incomplete or unrealistic
- structural decisions were made late, or conservatively
- materials and finishes are over-specified for what they do
- builder and supplier rates are inconsistent
- the programme is creating avoidable pressure
- design decisions are being made without current cost feedback
Before you cut the budget, question the building
Much of a build’s cost is set long before construction starts. Structural systems, spans, the plan, material sizes and the order of construction can often be rationalised to deliver the same design intent with less material, simpler detailing and an easier build.
Sometimes the most valuable design decision is knowing what does not need to be there.
What we review
The relationship between design, cost and delivery:
- plans, elevations and sections
- scope and inclusions
- builder quotes and trade quotations
- provisional sums and prime cost (PC) allowances
- material and product selections
- structural assumptions
- site constraints
- programme and construction sequencing
- supplier availability and procurement timing
Structure, with a registered engineer
Where a different structural approach could reduce cost or complexity, we develop the idea with a registered structural engineer, who assesses and documents it. Any structural change is subject to that engineering assessment and to any approvals it needs.
Your project, a second opinion
Already have an approved design, engineering drawings or a builder’s quote? You don’t need to be an existing Arkhaus client: we review projects designed by others too.
Sometimes the answer is a substantial redesign. Sometimes it is a handful of careful adjustments. And sometimes the existing solution is already the right one, in which case we will tell you.
How a review works
- 01 Initial review: we read the drawings, budget, quotes, engineering and programme you send, and note the obvious pressure points and limits.
- 02 Is it worth pursuing? A preliminary view of the likely benefit, the uncertainty and the cost of looking further. If the economics don’t look compelling, we recommend against going on.
- 03 Engineering and implementation: if you go ahead, we coordinate the detailed engineering, proposed changes, cost comparisons and any documentation and approvals. Scope and fees are agreed with you before this starts.
Once changes are agreed, project support can carry them through documentation and construction.
What you receive
A short preliminary note: where the cost pressure appears to come from, what needs clarifying, questions to take back to your builder or consultants, opportunities to refine the design or specification, the recommended next step, and what cannot be judged without more information. It is a review, not a quote or a quantity surveyor’s report.
Supplier relationships
Years of working with suppliers, fabricators and builders mean we can often suggest practical alternatives, compare rates and find materials that suit both the design and the budget. Any supplier commission, rebate or referral arrangement is disclosed to you in writing.
Better value, not simply cheaper
Value engineering is not about stripping quality out of a project. It keeps the details that define it and takes out cost where it adds little. Good savings shouldn’t look like savings.
Send us the project as it stands
No polished brief is needed. Send what you have and tell us what is troubling you. We review it first and tell you whether a useful preliminary response is possible.
Received.
We’ll review what you’ve sent and let you know whether there is enough information for a useful preliminary response. If anything important is missing, we’ll ask before making assumptions.
Can you review a builder’s quote before we sign?
Yes. Send the quote with the drawings and specification. We look at what is driving the cost (structure, detailing, finishes, allowances and rates) and what could be clarified or changed before you commit.
Can value engineering reduce cost without changing the character of the design?
Often, yes: by rationalising the structure, simplifying details, or changing how and when things are built, rather than downgrading what people see and touch. Where a change would affect the design, we explain the trade-off so you can decide.
What should I send for a preliminary review?
Whatever you have: plans, engineering, a cost plan, builder or trade quotes, the specification, the programme, site or survey information, and photos. If you have nothing yet, describe the project and we will say what would help.
Can you review a renovation that has already been priced?
Yes. A priced renovation is a good moment for a review, while there is still time to adjust the scope, details or sequencing before work starts.
What are provisional sums and PC items, and why do they matter?
They are allowances in a quote for work or items that are not yet fully defined. If they are set too low, the final cost rises later. We check whether the allowances look realistic for what has been drawn and specified.
Do you work on projects designed by someone else?
Yes. You don’t need to be an existing Arkhaus client, and the review is the same.
Do you guarantee savings?
No. Every project and quote is different, and a potential saving is only an estimate until the solution has been checked by the engineer and priced by the builder. We show where the money is going and what the options are.
Do you take commissions from suppliers?
Any supplier commission, rebate or referral arrangement is disclosed to you in writing before you decide.
