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What is estimation software?

Estimating software is used by contractors, builders and other construction professionals to estimate the cost of a construction project for the purpose of making an accurate bid. Estimating software is designed to cut costs by defining tasks and automating everyday tasks through the use of databases. It also ensures that no information is omitted from the estimation process.

Estimating software can be costly depending on the vendor and software features. However, good estimating software can save a contractor money by making bids more accurate, reducing overruns and unexpected costs. It also serves to help contractors improve the overall bidding process.

Too high bids mean another contractor gets the job, while low bids mean lower profits for the contractor. Overestimating materials can cause you to buy more than is necessary for the job. This money will be wasted if the materials cannot be used for another job.

The main benefit of estimating software is how the costs of tasks are automated. The software usually comes with a database of construction costs, updated monthly by subscription. Many builders will prefer to keep their own database for job costs so that the software more accurately reflects local costs and price fluctuations in the market.

Having material and labor costs readily available makes the estimator's job easier. Writers can also use the software to define the materials and labor hours of a task. The software takes this definition and calculates the job costs from a database of labor and material costs. This way, the estimator only has to choose a task that he has defined in the database and the software does the rest. This minimizes the chance that a procedure or material will accidentally be left out of the equation.

Another benefit of estimating software is that it allows the builder to look at the final contract cost and compare it to the original bid. Bids can then be revised to see how they can be made more accurate. The estimator can decide to change the definition of a particular task in the software database, requiring less material or less labor.

Estimating software often includes other functions specific to the estimator's job. It can print a quote letter based on the input. In addition, some software can act as financial software to track the company's finances. These estimation software packages are often designed for the contractor running a small business.

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ERP software for construction

Every project in the construction industry is unique. It is difficult to estimate what the costs will be or how progress will proceed. ERP software is used to make the management of resources and people during projects as efficient as possible.

In construction, we have to deal with laws, rules and standards that only apply to this sector. For that reason, it is wise to find an ERP supplier that focuses on the construction sector. Find out how this software can benefit your business. The following modules and functionalities give an impression of what is possible.

Project management

With project management, all information about projects is collected in one place. At a glance you have the latest information about, among other things, the parties involved, hours, material and documents.

Schedule

A digital planning provides a complete and up-to-date overview of all activities. All current and planned tasks can be sorted by project, employee or period. Progress monitoring features ensure that project progress is managed and deadlines are met. With the addition of a mobile application, every employee also has the latest version of the planning on site.

Calculations

It is possible to make calculations throughout the project. At the beginning to make a good estimate of the costs and materials. And during the project to monitor progress and control budgets.

Document management

A digital environment makes the paper file superfluous. All drawings, photos and receipts are stored with the correct projects or contacts and can always be found quickly. Documents are automatically updated so that everyone is working with the latest version. They are also available to employees at locations via smartphones or tablets.

Working states

Construction projects start with drawing up work statements. When choosing ERP software, it is important that the supplier is familiar with the applicable industry standard for preparing these work statements. In this way, all information is loaded into the system and processed properly.

Time registration

With time registration you always keep an overview of the hours worked by employees. With the addition of a mobile version, employees can immediately report the number of hours worked on a smartphone or tablet after a job has been completed.

Billing

Standard work processes such as invoicing can be easily automated and immediately saves time from implementation. The information that is entered during projects, such as work sheets or time registration, is automatically loaded onto quotations or invoices. These only have to be checked and can then be sent directly to the customer in house style.

Administration

The administration is very simple thanks to ERP. The correct data is collected by the software and only needs to be checked. This can be done with an administration module in the system or through a link with the current administration software. It is easy to check the payment status for each supplier or customer. If an invoice has been open for too long, a reminder is automatically sent to the relevant company if desired.

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WHAT DOES A CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR DO?

A construction calculator calculates the cost of constructing a building. For this he bases himself on the plans, the specifications, the measurement statement and all kinds of additional documents provided by the architect. In this article you will walk with Gerlinde, head of construction calculations at DCA, through the main aspects of this lesser known job within the construction industry.

WHAT DOES THAT GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION OF A CALCULATOR MEAN IN CONCRETE TERMS?

“In order to arrive at a tender figure, a good calculator critically analyzes the financial and technical feasibility of the file. This includes the estimated hours, the chosen materials, the necessary equipment, the anticipated working hours and any subcontracts. He studies and checks the specified quantities and proposed implementation methods and examines possible variants. He then collects information from suppliers, subcontractors and the internal purchasing department and completes the obtained data in a cost-price calculation program such as KPD, ”Gerlinde explains.

“In addition to the tenders, a calculator also regularly assists the project or site management. For example when drawing up any settlements. He also collects, processes and interprets the results of performance audits. It goes without saying that the information that a calculator receives at those moments is included in new assignments. ”

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE WITH A WORK PLANNER?

“As a construction calculator you are active in the tendering phase. The job title work planner is usually used in two ways by fellow construction companies. You can work on tenders and be in the execution. At DCA we do not speak of work planners, but we do have a study service that assists the site management and the separate calculation department. ”

HOW DO YOU BECOME A CALCULATOR?

“Almost every calculator comes from a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering at a college or university. There are also various evening courses. New colleagues therefore usually come to us from school via an internship and / or holiday job. In exceptional cases, a purchaser or site manager, whether internal or not, sometimes moves on the calculation, ”says Gerlinde.

Gerlinde notices that the profession of calculator is less obvious than choosing to become a site manager. “The fact that we work behind the scenes and therefore do not build anything physically is certainly something in between. Anyone who becomes a calculator makes a conscious choice and usually strengthened from previous experiences.

WHAT IS THE WAGE OF A CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR?

“The beginner salary of a calculator is quite interesting. This probably has to do with the fact that it is a bottleneck profession. The exact starting amount depends of course on your education and experience, but in the long run you will receive nice extra-legal benefits. At DCA you also have the security of a stable company in full growth, challenging projects, a great team, varied business activities and good support from the personnel department. ”

WHO DO YOU MAINLY WORK WITH?

“You have two large groups of contacts: the internal and the external. Within the company you work daily with your direct colleagues, but you also regularly consult with the purchasing department, project management, project preparation and the project development department. You e-mail and call externally with clients, architects involved and subcontractors or suppliers. ”

IS A CALCULATOR OFTEN BUILT ON SITE?

“At DCA we have the habit of regularly visiting an active site. In this way we keep in touch with the implementation. Before a major demolition or renovation, we always take a look at the site. In many cases, there are no accurate plans, so in those cases we choose to assess the situation with our own critical eye. If we are also in the vicinity of a construction site, a spontaneous visit is not excluded.

VACANCIES IN CONSTRUCTION

The construction sector is looking for many architectural profiles. For example, our purchasing department is currently still looking for a colleague, but subsidiary Coraco is also still looking for a calculator. Do any of those positions appeal to you? Then take a look at dca.be/jobs and who knows, we might see you soon during an introductory meeting.

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The Construction Surveying

The service surveying of IGL Technical Measurement ranges from small-scale to large-scale projects. We work with high-quality surveying equipment combined with a self-developed measurement coding system for the calculation, processing and presentation of the measured data.

The surveying activities are carried out with the most modern GPS RTK (GNSS), Total Stations and digital leveling instruments. Our surveyors have experience in the following surveying activities.

Create card

Plotting of area layout: main structure, construction ready, ready for housing and plot boundaries

Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and ground balance

Cross profiles and longitudinal profiles

Cadastral Research

Split cadastral boundary

Height measurements

Transfer of height (NAP) by means of (digital) leveling

GPS measurements National Triangle System (RD)

Surveying / map making

We carry out situation measurements for map manufacturing for various purposes. For example, we measure for the 2D or 3D recording of the current situation. This measurement can serve to determine dimensions and surface, for example for the development of a new situation. Because the measurement data is provided and stored in our database, additional measurements or expansions of the new situation can be performed 1: 1.

We also carry out measurements for the delivery and settlement of work performed. (quantity survey) An example of this is measuring the location and height of inspection pits during reconstruction work. These data are processed in the well statement and on drawing.

These activities take place for both executing parties and clients.

Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Ground Balance

In addition to map manufacturing, we also offer measuring and presenting digital terrain models. The presentation gives a picture of the topography and contours of the terrain. This can be colored depending on the height and provided with isotype at various intervals. As an extension of these activities, a ground balance can be calculated based on the measurement. The calculation can be performed with respect to a theoretical base plane, but also with respect to a measured base plane. With this, surpluses or shortages and their location are made transparent. This data provides insight into the volume of material to be moved or supplied or removed and the amount of transport movements for this.

Cross profiles and longitudinal profiles

Profiles can be automatically generated based on a measured DTM. This can be in scale 1: 1 or with an exaggeration. In the latter case, the elevation scale is displayed in a different proportion than the distance scale.

Profile measurements can also be carried out specifically. Depending on the demand and application, this can be done with surveying accuracy (+/- 1 cm) to very accurate (+/- 2 mm), for example in the case of asphalt heights.

Water features and waterways can also be included in the profile measurement. A compact boat is available for this. With a specially developed rod foot, both the top and the bottom of sludge can be measured.

Cadastral investigation / cadastral division

We can give you insight into the location of the cadastral boundary. There are two options here, global and precise. Overall is based on the cadastral map. For example, in an area development, we can display the data on a digital drawing, but also plot it in the site as an indication. If a global representation of the cadastral boundary is not accurate enough, this can also be done to centimeter accuracy. For this, a site measurement and a cadastral survey will have to be carried out in advance. Although only the Land Registry can make existing boundaries visible in the field with legal validity, there may be advantages to having this carried out by us. An advantage may be that we carry out the restocking activities earlier than up to 20 working days increasing lead time for one border at the Land Registry.

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To expand our team, we are immediately looking for a full-time surveyor

As a surveyor, you will independently support our clients in the preparation phase of projects yet to be realized, as well as conducting and setting out checks on current and completed projects, such as construction and renovation of roads, preparing plots for construction, the construction of sports fields and large earth moving. Your eye for detail makes you accurate and precise. You also have a good dose of entrepreneurship, which makes you enterprising and cost-conscious.

 What are you going to do?

Preparing surveying and setting out work.

Perform survey and layout work on projects.

Elaboration of the measurement data, such as calculating quantities.

What we are looking for in our new colleague:

You have at least a completed MBO study Civil Engineering and / or Surveying.

You have a number of years of experience in the dimensions of the civil engineering / infrastructure sector.

You have knowledge of GPS and Totalstation.

You are at least in possession of a driving license B and VCA.

If you can work with AutoCAD Civil 3D, this is an advantage.

You are independent, versatile and have a hands-on mentality.

You enjoy working in a team of passionate employees.

You enjoy being able to contribute to innovative solutions in order to be able to carry out our work more efficiently and to serve our clients better.

We offer:

An informal working atmosphere within an innovative and growing company, a large degree of independence and competitive terms of employment. In addition, we want to let you grow further in your development, just like our company. For this we offer opportunities for further studies and training that further strengthen you and us as a team.

Interested?

We are Optima Infra, specialist in 3D for civil engineering. Whether it concerns surveying and setting out, making 3D models, GPS machine control, delivery of MOBA GPS Systems or our specialization in Infrakit, we can do it. We make digitization work. Optima Infra is young and dynamic, but also professional and innovative. There is room for ideas and own initiatives, which we warmly welcome. Together we make Optima Infra and together we aim for an optimal result.

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What are the cost drivers for a new construction?

In What does a new build cost? We raised 1,400 to 1,500 dollars per square meter as a target price for a new-build home. But what all plays a role in the final cost of your home? What causes that square meter price to fall or rise?

Materials, working hours, fees and VAT

Before we can answer that, it is important that you know what the 1,400 dollars stands for. That amount consists of two major parts: the materials and the working hours. You may charge the round number 1,000 dollars for this, excluding VAT. 

A third part is your architect's  fee , about 7% of the construction budget. 1000 * 1.07 equals 1,070 dollars. 

And of course you have to pay an additional 21% VAT on that amount. Good for a total sum of 1,300 dollars per square meter.

Every square meter counts

Every square meter you build increases costs. The bigger you build, the higher the cost will be. In addition, there are a number of factors that can lower the square meter price itself, but also push it up. An overview.

Finish

Do you like luxury? Then the square meter price will increase. Do you want solid parquet or are you satisfied with a solid, basic floor finish ? A fully customized kitchen with the latest gadgets or just a standard kitchen ?

With our square meter price we keep the church in the middle, but know that a kitchen of 15,000 dollars will increase the total price tag and therefore also the square meter price.

For spaces such as a storage room, indoor garage or an attic, the square meter price is significantly lower, because the degree of finishing is a lot lower than for a living space.

Techniques

You can also prune your techniques or invest extra. For example, the price difference between the various ventilation systems can quickly amount to several thousand dollars. The price tag of a heat pump will also be higher than a traditional condensing boiler.

Newer or advanced techniques will certainly pay off in the long term, but often require a larger investment.

The working hours

The working hours of your contractor (s) are the biggest cost in your construction adventure. By rolling up your sleeves yourself, you will be able to seriously reduce the square meter price.

The very small group of self-builders, people who largely build their own house, sometimes also take it upon themselves that they can reduce their costs to less than 1,000 dollars per square meter.

However, you can also save a lot of euros by, for example, taking care of parts of the finish. Or help the contractor. But don't underestimate this: after all, you save money, but you invest a lot of time.

Builders who outsource everything will of course pay the full price.

Architect's fee

One fee is not the other. 7% on the price tag of your construction is a guide to calculate the fee of your architect, but an architect is free to determine his own fee. And that means varying reimbursements.

An example with a house of 160 m² and a construction budget of 200,000 dollars. An architect who charges 7% ends up at 14,000 dollars . An architect who calculates with a fixed fee of 50 euros per square meter costs 8,000 dollars . Quite a difference ...

Building type, construction and location

The construction type (open, semi-open or closed) and the construction itself also play a role in the square meter price. An open building costs more than a semi-detached building, which in turn is more expensive than a closed building. A simple, straightforward construction will be cheaper than a house with fancy shapes.

The location also plays a role. In some areas, contractors are simply more expensive.

Garage, cellar,…?

To be clear: loose garages and a cellar are not included in this. Nor the connection costs, epb reporter and safety coordinator .

Again: this is an indication. If you want a more precise cost of your future home, you should contact an architect or a turnkey company

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SG Construction: Calculate construction costs

SG Bouw is the site for you if you want to know what a construction project costs and how this price is structured. Although the name 'SG Bouw' may suggest otherwise, you are not dealing with a construction company here. This website is aimed at providing insight into the costs and prices associated with a construction project. These can be various construction projects, such as demolition, installation or connection. In addition, insight is provided into the costs associated with construction projects such as land costs, notary costs and similar matters.

SG Construction offers you the best way to see how the costs of a construction project come about. Below you can read more about the costs associated with building a house, approximately how much new construction will cost per square or cubic meter, how a contractor budget is drawn up, what kind of construction costs may be involved, the work involved in building a house, any additional costs that come on top of the price of a new-build home and finally you can read more information about the quality marks and rules that are applied by the government. All this makes SG Bouw the site for everything you want to know about the costs of a construction project and how they arise.

What does building a house cost?

The prices associated with building a new home are extremely variable and depend on several factors. A precise impression is not always easy to give to the consumer just like that, but a global impression is certainly possible. This will give you a good idea before making a final decision.

In the table below you will find a rough overview of the costs associated with having a house built. This involves looking at the size of the house, the total number of square meters, having a foundation placed, the carcass without any form of finishing, the finishing itself, the global total costs and the global price per cubic meter.

What does new construction cost per square meter or cubic meter?

Even when it comes to showing the costs per square or cubic meter, global figures can be shown that give an indication of the costs associated with new construction. The construction and land costs play a major role in this, which often determine the largest part of the price. However, these costs are extremely variable, often depending on the location where the new building will be built. This makes it difficult to list concrete costs, but global costs are nevertheless a possibility. In the table below you see a global overview of the price per square and cubic meter, which also looks at the type of new construction.

Have a contractor budget drawn up

Before starting work, a contractor should prepare a contractor budget outlining all tasks, quantities and unit prices. This gives you a clear price indication of the construction project, and it also gives you a good overview of all the costs associated with building a new house in one go. You get the cost price from the multiplication of the quantities by the unit prices. A quotation can also serve as a budget. All tasks to be performed can be found in the budget or quotation (minus unexpected tasks).

Construction costs

What exactly are the construction costs? Strictly speaking, these are the costs that are necessary for the construction of the house to come about. Below a number of the most important construction costs are listed for you. Costs associated with these activities are usually an estimate, but an exact calculation is often also a possibility. This will happen later in the construction phase. In the preliminary phase, an estimate can be made per square or cubic meter, which can deviate about 10 to 15 percent from the final amount. You can of course also wait for the contractor's budget, in which you can find the correct costs.

Various construction costs listed:

Demolition costs

Architectural costs

Technical installation costs

Soil mechanical research & environmental research

Building permits

Connection costs gas / water / light

Demolition costs

Both in the case of a renovation and when building an entirely new home, it may happen that certain elements have to be demolished before something new can be built. Fortunately, many professionals have years of experience in demolishing parts within the home with policy. Completely demolishing a building costs between 40 and 60 euros per square meter.

Architectural costs

As you can read in the previously mentioned tables, there are many costs that come into play when having a new home built. Construction costs is an umbrella term that refers to the costs of your own construction contractor. This could include the price you pay for materials, hourly wages, delivery and all kinds of other related costs that you incur at the contractor.

Technical installation costs

Installation costs can fluctuate considerably. Sometimes they are only a small portion of the total construction cost, other times they can be as much as 50% of the cost. What do you have to consider with installation costs? Examples of this are connecting the heating, ventilation, plumbing, electricity and much more. Your home is filled with things that need to be connected, which is why this cost item is sometimes quite substantial.

Soil mechanical research & environmental research

Before building a new house, all kinds of research and measurements must be carried out. Sometimes these measurements are carried out quickly, other times measurements have to be taken deep in the ground. These costs are therefore also very variable. The price can therefore range from a few hundred dollars. to thousands of dollars.

Building permits

Whether it is a renovation or building an entirely new home, you will need a permit approved by the municipality. The costs associated with applying for a permit may differ per municipality. On average, you should count on half to two percent of the total investment costs for the building permits.

Connection costs gas / water / light

A new home is not very useful without connected gas, water and light. It is best to ask a supplier or the municipality about this. Costs are on average between 2000 and 8000 euros.

Overview of various costs if you have a house built

Below is an overview of the various costs you will incur when you have a new home built.

Various additional costs listed:

Land costs

Notary fees

Transfer Tax

Interest costs land

Land costs

You will need land for a new house, as it has to be built on something. You can buy land from the municipality, a private person or from a project developer. You soon have to count on an amount between 150 and 500 euros per square meter.

Notary fees

A notary can perform various activities for you, which makes the costs variable. You can easily count on just under a thousand to thousands of euros.

Transfer Tax

Only applicable when an existing home is bought. At the moment this tax is 2%.

Interest costs land

To purchase land you will probably have to borrow money, on which you have to pay interest. This interest is variable and depends on where you borrow the amount.

Extra costs on top of the purchase price of a new-build home

Below you will find an overview of the costs that can be added to the purchase price:

Advice on mortgage:  1500 dollars

National Mortgage Guarantee:  one percent of the mortgage sum

Notary fees:  500 dollars

Construction interest

Repayment and interest on the mortgage: depending on the amount.

Additional work

Delivery inspection: $250

Construction costs

Furnishing the house

Quality marks and rules from the government

Products must comply with the CE mark Opens in a new window and the KOMO Opens in a new window. The CE mark relates to European directives related to products and business processes, including within construction. The KOMO is a quality mark that is specifically given to companies within the construction industry, with this quality mark you know that you are always in the right place.

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Social media in construction: how do you stay active and spend your time as effectively as possible?

If you become active on social media, creating an account is usually not the most difficult step. It is of course important to think carefully in advance about how you want to profile yourself and for whom and for what purpose you will use which media ( see the 5-step plan for the use of social media ). But then? H ow do you provide a continuous stream of inspiration for new updates, tweets or blogs? How do you stay active and spend your time as effectively as possible? Practical tips in this article.

Set up Google Alerts

Google Alerts give you the option to subscribe to a search query. For example 'lean building', 'sustainable building' or 'saving energy'.

From the moment you have created a search query, you will regularly (you can set how often) an e-mail when the search term you entered appears online. It is actually a kind of digital clipping service. This way you may receive relevant content in your inbox. Be sure to monitor your company name and other relevant terms via Google Alerts, so that you know when you are mentioned.

Be inspired by customers

Your customers or clients are your best source of inspiration, often unnoticed. What questions do they ask during conversations, what are their concerns, what can you help them with? Do you have advice that you have already given several times and that you find that answers a question that is important to many? Then write a blog about it or dedicate a tweet or update to it.

Ask questions

Do you have a trade-related problem, are you looking for a specific product, do you want to hear the opinion of your customers or do you need experts by experience? Feel free to ask your questions online and share it via social media.

In discussion groups on LinkedIn, professionals like to answer, on Twitter you can expect effective solutions from complete strangers. And on Facebook, your fans will be very happy if you give them the opportunity to contribute new ideas or suggestions. You increase the involvement of your customers, clients and other relations with your company and you often receive very valuable input with which you can improve your offer.

Give answers

Show in and outside your network what you know and what you can do and that you are happy to help others with your knowledge by answering their questions. Because of course you answer questions that are directly put to you. But you can also look up questions. Questions about topics that you understand, so that you can profile yourself and everyone can see what knowledge you have. For example, by following discussion groups on LinkedIn or monitoring Twitter.

Create Twitter lists

Do you use Twitter? Then create lists. You can group Twitter users by topic using lists. Or create groups of Totterers that you don't want to miss. For example, a list of colleagues, a list of customers or a list of people who are always good for interesting tweets and links.

Monitoring and planning: Hootsuite

One tool that helps you monitor social media and spend your time effectively is Hootsuite . There are all kinds of tools that can help you with this , but the basic version of Hootsuite is free and it works very well.

With Hootsuite, you can easily and clearly manage your activities on social media such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in one place, in one so-called dashboard. You can create summary columns with set keywords, in which you can see what is said about your company, your products, services or projects or relevant topics. But you can also schedule updates in advance. For example, prepare messages on Monday that will then be sent automatically later in the week.

Save time

With Hootsuite you save time because you keep an overview, monitor what is said and written about you, you can easily respond to it via Hootsuite and because you can schedule messages.

For example, do you know on Wednesday that the following week will be hopelessly hectic? Then take half an hour and schedule some tweets and updates for that week. That way you stay active, but it takes less time when you are too busy. And do you suddenly have a lot of good content because your network shares a lot of interesting information? Don't share all those messages at once, but schedule them and divide them a bit more overtime.

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Social media in construction: orientation and networking

Almost half of the B&U contractors now cite social media as a source of business orientation. Social media are almost as popular among E-installers. DIY companies, W-installers and architects are lagging behind. The latter market party in particular uses social media for networking. This is evident from the 2019 Construction Knowledge Communication Monitor.

In order to get the most out of the communication budget, it is important to know how the target group is oriented towards products and services. At a time when the number of orientation options is increasing and the way of orientation is changing, it is a huge challenge for organizations to map out the orientation process of their customers. 

The report identifies, among other things, which media are used by parties in the construction industry for business orientation. Specific attention is paid to the use of social media. They occupy an increasingly important place within our society and therefore also within the construction sector.

Contractors B&U and E-installers in the lead

The 2019 Construction Knowledge Communication Monitor shows that social media is still relatively uncommon as the most widely used orientation source for business communication. However, they are actually used for this. It is mainly the contractors B&U (48%) and E-installers (45%) who mention social media as a source of orientation for business use.

When specifically looking for information via social media, it mainly concerns product information. It is mainly the handymen (26%) who indicate that they are looking for this type of information.

Networks popular

In addition to orientation, other reasons for using social media were of course also looked at. This shows that networking via this medium is popular, especially with architects. The use of LinkedIn seems to be closely related to this. Networking is especially popular among architects, and they also make the most use of this particular channel.

To a lesser extent, social media are also used to improve brand awareness and image and to stimulate own sales. Sharing knowledge, informing target groups and being accessible to customers are still far behind.

Construction is present

Compared to, for example, sites of manufacturers and trade journals, social media still play a relatively small role in business orientation. However, executing and prescribing parties are also present on social media in many other ways. Even if they are not specifically looking for products and services, they can come into contact with suppliers and the associated products and services.

Deserved attention

It is becoming easier for customers to search for information at any time. Partly because of this, the focus within marketing is shifting from 'bought attention' to 'deserved attention'. Sharing the content relevant to the target group is an important means of creating distinctive character and a preferred position. Social media can of course play a major role in offering, finding and sharing this relevant content.

Research

Population Five market parties were approached for the 2019 Construction Knowledge Communication Monitor: architects, B&U contractors, handymen, E-installers and W-installers. The sample consists of 501 useful surveys.

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What does building a house cost?

One of the big questions when building a new home is about cost. What does building a house actually cost? On this page we indicate what is involved. We also give you tips. On the basis of these tips you can already get started for your dream home. The prices of new-build homes vary considerably. Via the five points below you can see per part what all influences the costs and approximately when these should be incurred in the process. Read each part carefully and, if necessary, get started with some preliminary work for your new-build home file.

Construction costs per m3

To be able to estimate the financial consequences of buying a building plot and building a new-build house, you can make an investment overview using the points below. As a rule of thumb, you can use the table below for the construction costs. Building a house costs on average between $250 and $550 per m3. The exact number depends on several aspects. Have you found the price per m3 for the construction costs? Then continue to the additional costs. Every point must be taken into account.

Land costs and Option costs

The indicated land costs for a particular plot are usually inclusive of VAT. If you take an option on a lot, you pay option costs. The costs for this are around $250 - $500. An option is valid for approximately 8 weeks. You can often extend an option for the same amount for another 6 weeks.

Notarial costs

In order to become the legal owner of the land, transfer of ownership through the notary is necessary. It then concerns the deed of transfer. If you also take out a mortgage loan, a mortgage deed will also be executed (usually simultaneously). These costs are around $1000 - $2500. You can deduct the costs for the mortgage deed from the tax authorities.

Cadastral costs

The municipality often arranges and pays for the costs of the first survey of the building plot, the provisional division, resulting in a cadastral number. The notarial transfer and cadastral registration takes place on the basis of this number. You must then have the costs of cadastral registration and final measurement done yourself. Cost is approximately $400.

Probing costs

A CPT investigation is needed to determine the soil quality regarding the structure of the soil for the construction of the foundation. You can have this survey carried out by a geotechnical consultancy to determine whether and to what depth pile driving work is required. The costs for this are usually around $1250.

Construction fee Municipality

The fee for processing the application for an environmental permit is determined as follows: a basic amount applies plus a percentage of the determined construction costs. In this phase you can safely count with approximately 2 to 3% of the construction costs of the house. So without the additional costs. 

Architect and Constructor costs

ArchitectDirect.nl can guide you fully professionally. Traditionally, an architect uses 4 to 10% of the construction costs as a fee. However, we simply work with fixed prices. A sketch design and construction drawing at Architect Direct always have a transparent price as indicated on the order page.

Utility connections

The municipality provides the infrastructure for gas, water, electricity and sewerage. However, you will have to arrange the house connections yourself. The costs for a connection to the municipal sewerage system are approximately $300 to $500.

Bridging loan

After you take ownership of the land, your financing costs start to run. You may also be dealing with a bridging loan. A bridging loan is a loan to bridge the period in which you bought a new house, but the old house has not yet been sold. A financial advisor can advise you on this.

Furnishing of the house, landscaping and moving costs

Are you taking the household effects with you from the old house or are you going to buy new things? Take into account the fact that household effects will also be a significant expense. This also applies to the construction of a new garden. You may need a landscape architect and interior designer. Check your wishes carefully and see what the costs will be. Don't forget that moving also costs money.

Construction costs / contract price for construction

The costs depend on the construction method, content and the materials used in your home. Before starting, calculate an average price per cubic meter. See the table above under construction costs to use as a guideline.

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Construction costs & renovation costs Calculation

What will new construction cost you?

When you start building a new house, calculating costs in advance is a guide for many people about what to expect. There are many ways to calculate approximately what a house will cost you. This is usually done in square meter (m2) prices or cubic meter (m3) prices.

Pitfalls

What matters, you should realize that when it seems too good to be true, it is often. If the m2 or m3 price offered is many times cheaper than that of the competitor, there is a good chance that you will have to pay much more in other areas, such as additional work or finishing.

Every construction company wants and must earn money by building a house. Every decision you make has a cost. This is not bad at all. However, it is annoying if you receive the final quotation for the construction, also known as the contractor's budget, and it no longer fits within your financial picture. If this is the case, you will have to change the building plans and start saving money thoroughly.

The costs start in the ground

If you are going to build new buildings, you will be the first to buy the land. This is often a substantial part of the total budget. The final price is determined by the municipality that issues the lots and can therefore vary greatly from place to place. After the land costs come the construction costs. This includes all the prices necessary to truly build the house. This includes earthwork and excavation work, structural work, finishing, finishing, installation work and sanitary facilities. You yourself have a great influence on this. The greater the needs and therefore the more luxurious the finish, the upper the prices are going to be.

The last split of costs is all additional costs, the costs that are not yet mentioned above. This includes notary fees, applying for a building permit, but also engaging an architect. In addition, you also have to pay to be connected to, for example, the sewer. It is also wise to reserve a game for unforeseen costs. In total, when building a new house, between 8 and 15% of the total amount is needed for the additional costs.

Prices per part

Plasterer prices

The cost of a dormer

The costs of plastic frame

Calculate window frames painting costs

Calculate the costs of plastering

Calculate the costs of a bathroom renovation

Calculate the paving driveway costs

Walls impregnation cost calculation

Calculate costs of cavity wall insulation

Calculate the costs of replacing roof tiles

Calculate roller shutter prices

Bathroom remodel costs

Calculate costs for installing bar fencing

Calculate electricity renewal costs

Calculate the costs of a group box replaced

Differences to calculate the price

You can prefer to have the prices calculated exactly beforehand. Another option is to estimate the costs first. Which is best suited to your situation strongly depends on the step in the construction process you are in. The closer you are to the construction phase, the more specified and more precise the costs are. 

Costs per m2 and m3 per segment

As can be seen above, there are a number of phases in which the prices still have to be interpreted with some margin. A quick calculation example: if you have a house with a budget of $300,000 calculated in the first phase, the final amount will be between 255,000 and $345,000. Calculating the price only in this way is therefore not advisable. The table below is clearer and more precise. Compare the finish level with that of the surface and come up with a more realistic estimate.

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Three types of cost estimates for construction

Let's look at one of the challenges of a cost engineer: estimating construction costs. In general, direct project costs include construction, material and equipment costs. Construction costs are often the most difficult part of the estimate.

Construction costs differ according to a complex set of relationships. Wages differ per location, sometimes up to fifty percent. Once wages have been set, construction costs are mainly determined by labor productivity. High productivity results in lower construction costs, while lower productivity leads to higher construction costs. It is not uncommon for labor productivity to be low when wages are also low, which can lead to relatively high costs per component, despite low wages. 

Conditions of construction work, for example in a renovation project, can also change productivity, for example due to accessibility, dust or requirements of the construction site. The amount of space can also have an influence. Scheduling requirements can require different activities to be performed at the same place or at the same time. How efficiently equipment and services are shared can also affect productivity. 

 Three estimation techniques can be distinguished to deal with these types of problems: 

1. Cost estimate with unit rates 

A unit rate contains the average amount of resources you need to install one unit (each, meter, kg, etc.) that you can find on an MTO. Multiplying all unit rates by the numbers of all MTOs results in a very detailed cost estimate of the resources to be deployed for the project. Because this is so detailed, it allows you to change productivity by activity. Each activity is assigned to the work breakdown structure, providing a diversification of resources that allows you to monitor and control productivity. 

2. Cost estimate based on resources

If an MTO is available, it makes sense to use unit rates for your estimates. If a schedule is available, resource based cost estimation is also an option. With this technique, you are not looking at the average number of hours you use to install materials and equipment. Instead, you plan the resources you need using schedules and agendas. All hours-related parts of your estimate are created through the associated calendar, to determine the amount of time that a resource uses during the activity. 

3. Factor estimates 

Factor estimates are used when no MTO or planning is available yet. This is normally the case in the early stages of a project. Using material costs as a basis, construction costs can be estimated by means of factors. This method works because there is often a strong correlation between the cost of the materials used and the labor required to install them. It is useful in the early stages, but the disadvantage is that there are far fewer possibilities to adjust productivity in the cost estimate. 

 A cost engineer must always have the capabilities to perform one or more of these techniques. Depending on the phase and type of the project, you determine which technique best suits your situation.