How does one determine the preliminary costs of a project?
By now all the project information is available on paper. Subsequently, the architect or engineer will prepare a report of the project costs – a budget. Based on knowledge of the actual market prices for materials and labor, the professional will be able to prepare and accurate estimate of the construction expenses, based on the selected preliminary design. If this initial estimate does not fit in with the client’s budget, the client will have the opportunity to modify the plans to meet his budget or he will have to adjust the budget to match his desires and needs. At this stage the creativity of the engineer or architect is very important, to attempt to match the budget with the needs of the client. The professional can adjust the plans, offering different alternatives to match as closely as possible the client’s ideal budget/specification balance.
