Bills of quantities and estimates
How an Early Estimate Differs from a Bill of Quantities
A per-square-metre estimate shows whether a house size fits a budget. A bill of quantities breaks the work down once the specification is clearer.
Cost talks stall when two different numbers are treated as if one of them is false. Usually they answer different questions.
An early estimate asks whether the size is in range
The MEETS catalogue multiplies a reference area by an indicative rate per square metre. The house rate on the site is currently Rp4,500,000 per m². It exists so catalogue cards can be compared. It is not a promised finished price.
A 60 m² reference sits near that area times the rate. A 150 m² house sits higher. You can see which sizes are close to a budget and which are not.
Soil, a narrow lane, tiles, frames, and sanitary ware are not in that figure yet.
A bill of quantities asks which work makes up the number
A bill of quantities (RAB) lists the work: preparation, structure, walls, roof, frames, ceiling, MEP, finishes. Each line has a quantity and a unit rate.
It becomes useful once the design and specification are clear enough to measure. Changing the tile, or adding a canopy, shows up on a line, not only in one total.
Both can move after a survey
A survey can find soil that needs extra work, tight access, or an old building that has to come down first. That adds work the catalogue estimate does not contain.
MEETS marks site prices as early estimates. A final quotation is prepared after consultation, survey, and an agreed specification.
How to use both
- Use the catalogue estimate to pick a size and bedroom count close to the budget.
- Send the city, the lot size, and the start time with the request, so the conversation does not start from zero.
- Ask for a bill of quantities once the plan and finish level are chosen, not on day one when only the land is known.
If the number still feels abstract, use the budget range on the request form. "Not sure yet" is a valid answer. The city and the project type should be clear.
Common questions
Is Rp4,500,000 per m² a contract price?
No. It is an indicative rate so catalogue estimates can be compared. The contract price follows the survey, the specification, and the agreed scope.
When should a bill of quantities be prepared?
Once the plan and the finish level are clear enough to measure. Before that, an area estimate is enough to see whether the budget is realistic.
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