Preliminary Construction Estimates

Conceptual & Feasibility Budgeting

Early-Phase Cost Intelligence for Smarter Project Decisions

The most consequential cost decisions on any construction project are made before a single drawing is complete. Plane Estimates LLC provides preliminary construction estimates and conceptual budgets that give architects, developers, and owners the financial intelligence they need during the earliest phases of project planning — when design choices still have the greatest impact on total project cost.

Our rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimates translate your program requirements, site parameters, and design intent into a reliable cost range, grounded in current market data and comparable project benchmarks. We work from schematic drawings, area programs, or even a written project description to develop a conceptual cost model that helps you evaluate whether a project is financially viable before committing to full design fees and development costs.

Feasibility study support is a core part of our preliminary estimating service. When you're evaluating a potential acquisition, assessing a development opportunity, or presenting a project to lenders or partners, a credible cost estimate is essential. We provide the kind of structured, well-documented preliminary budget that satisfies due diligence requirements and gives decision-makers confidence in the numbers they're working with.

As design progresses from concept through schematic and into design development, your preliminary estimate should evolve with it. We build budget contingency analysis and value engineering options into every preliminary estimate so you understand the range of potential outcomes — and have specific levers available to pull the budget back into line if the design grows beyond initial expectations.

What's Included

Rough order of magnitude (ROM) budgets
Conceptual cost models
Feasibility study support
Schematic design cost estimates
Budget contingency analysis
Value engineering options

Who Needs This Service?

Preliminary estimating services are most valuable for architects who need cost feedback during the design process to keep projects within owner budgets, real estate developers evaluating the financial feasibility of potential projects, owners planning capital investments who need a credible cost basis before committing to design, and lenders or investors who require a preliminary construction budget as part of project underwriting.

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Our Process

How Preliminary Estimating Works

Submit Project Information

Share whatever you have — schematic drawings, an area program, a project description, or conceptual site plan. The more detail provided, the more refined the estimate, but we can work from very early-stage information.

Scope & Program Review

We analyze your project program, building type, site conditions, and any design constraints to define the scope categories and select appropriate cost models and benchmark data for your project type and market.

Conceptual Cost Modeling

A conceptual cost model is built using current square-footage rates, systems-level pricing, and comparable project data. Contingency levels are applied based on the design phase, and value engineering alternatives are identified where applicable.

Deliver Budget Report

Your preliminary estimate is delivered as a clear, organized budget report in PDF and Excel, with cost broken down by major system, contingency and escalation noted, and documented assumptions so you know exactly what the numbers are based on.

Have Questions?

Service FAQs

Want to know more about how preliminary estimating can support your early design decisions? We're happy to talk through your project.

What is a preliminary estimate?

A preliminary estimate — also called a conceptual estimate or rough order of magnitude (ROM) — is a construction cost budget developed during the early phases of project planning, before detailed construction documents are complete. It uses available program information, schematic drawings, and market benchmark data to establish a credible cost range for the project.

How accurate is a conceptual estimate?

Conceptual estimates typically carry an accuracy range of +/- 15–25%, depending on the completeness of the design information provided. We clearly document the accuracy level appropriate to your design phase and apply corresponding contingency amounts so the budget reflects realistic risk. As design progresses, the estimate can be refined to improve accuracy.

When should I get a preliminary estimate?

The earlier the better. Preliminary estimates are most valuable before significant design fees have been invested, before a land acquisition is finalized, or before a project is presented to lenders or partners. Getting a realistic cost picture at the program stage allows you to align the design scope with the available budget from the start, avoiding costly redesigns later.

What information do you need?

We can work with whatever is available — even just a project description, building type, gross area, location, and general quality level is enough to produce a meaningful ROM budget. Schematic drawings, site plans, or a written program allow for a more detailed conceptual estimate. We'll tell you clearly what assumptions we made based on the information provided.

Can preliminary estimates be updated as design advances?

Yes. Many clients engage us for ongoing cost support through the design process — updating the estimate as design progresses from concept through schematic design and into design development. Each update narrows the accuracy range and gives the design team earlier warning if the project is trending over budget, while there's still time to make meaningful scope adjustments.

Client Success

What Our Clients Say

"As an architect, keeping projects within owner budgets is one of the hardest parts of my job. Plane Estimates has become our go-to resource for schematic-phase cost checks. Their preliminary estimates are well-documented, realistic, and presented in a format I can hand directly to a client. They've saved us from two major redesigns in the last year alone."

Lisa Thompson Architect — Colorado