T&C's

Service Terms and Conditions

 

Our Terms and Conditions were last updated on 04/09/2023.

 

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using Our Service.

These Service Terms and Conditions apply to all Estimating, Takeoff and Drawing services provided by The estimating Company and are in addition to our Standard Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
https://www.theestimatingcompany.co.uk/t-c-s
https://www.theestimatingcompany.co.uk/privacy-policy

Your Responsibilities

1. Estimates & Takeoffs are produced using the drawings, plans and information provided by you.  

2. It is your responsibility to provide all the information required to us by email. Where you have not done so the estimator will use default rates, mark-ups, PC Sums and allowances etc. as they see fit without liability in any way.

3. Drawings/plans must include all relevant floor plans and elevations as a minimum, include a scale bar or dimensions and be to scale horizontally, vertically and be of sufficient quality to read all details.  

4. In the absence of adequate scaling we are able to scale approximately from objects such as door openings etc. which are typically set sizes. You will be informed when this is the case and any acceptance of the reports thereafter will be taken as your agreement of any resulting inaccuracy and to not hold us liable.

5. It is your responsibility to provide all documents in pdf. format without password protection.  We will inform you as soon as possible if we are unable to open or read your documents to prevent delays.

6. We agree that some Takeoff services may not require plans as specified above where it might be possible to carry out an accurate Takeoff with only the information supplied by you if you agree.

Service

1. The contract is made once you have paid for the services and we agree to provide our services to you and will begin work once you have met the criteria detailed above.

2. We will customise the settings where applicable, such as labour rates, profit margins and PC Sums to your requirements if you have provided them.

3. Published turnaround times are approximate only and will commence when the required drawings, information and payment are received before midday with the exception of Merchant subscriptions which will commence at our first opportunity once the information is received.

4. Amendments are included for free provided they are minor changes to the original works estimated and are not additional works.  All amendments must be supplied to us by email in ‘list form’ and be clear specific instructions from you. We do not accept third party instructions ‘copied and pasted’ to us. We reserve the right to make additional charges as we feel necessary where any works carried out by us are not included in the original estimate/takeoff or within the free amendments as indicated above.  We will notify you of any additional fees prior to commencing work.

5. Estimates are produced on the basis of free and clear site access and unimpeded work during normal working hours unless we are otherwise informed.

6. Specification of all materials used in our estimates and takeoffs are for build cost estimated pricing purposes only and must not be used as intended or implied materials to be used in the actual construction.

7. Estimates, Takeoffs and Plans are prepared for you as a pdf. file and emailed to the email address provided to us.  Select estimates and takeoffs are available as Word and Excel documents when requested.

8. Merchant takeoffs may contain length, area and volume measurements in addition to select specific material quantities based on standard material dimensions only.

PC Sums & Allowances

1. Due to the nature of certain building works such as plumbing, electrical, bathrooms, kitchens and finishes etc. we will provide PC Sums (Provisional Cost Sums) which we believe represent the current market. Costs for these items vary considerably due to conditions such as location, company size and the type of clients that building companies target, therefore we accept no liability for the default costs we use if you have not provided them for us.

2. Additionally we will also use PC Sums for any specialist materials, products or contractors, all of which we determine requires specialist pricing.  This includes but is not limited to basements requiring specialist retaining walls, specialist cladding, piled foundations, steel & timber frame buildings.

3. Due to the current climate in the construction industry and specifically the monthly increases in material costs we may add an additional contingency cost to the estimate in the form of an increased markup on the materials to ensure an allowance for cost increases from the time of providing quote and actual build start. By accepting our service you agree for us to add the contingency to your estimate. You may request the markups to be altered to whatever you wish but we may ask for email verification when instructed to set them below 20%

Limitation of Liability

1. It is your sole responsibility as the Main Contractor to check the estimate before use as a quotation or for tendering purposes or as a Merchant to check material quantities before placing orders.

2. The Service is provided to you “As Is” with all faults and defects without warranty of any kind. We and our associates accept no liability for any loss of earnings, profit or any financial loss or damages of any kind.

3. Estimates produced are not fixed quotations and by using our estimating service you acknowledge all measurements, quantities or advice given is an estimate only without liability. 

4. We accept no responsibility for any cost variation between the estimate provided and the actual build cost and have no responsibility to you other than to complete and return the estimates and to provide a free amendment service.

5. We exclude ourselves and our associates from any liability for loss or profit, business, information/data or any other financial loss or any incidental, indirect, special or punitive damages of any kind.

6. We reserve the right to amend our prices at any time and without prior notice.

7. We reserve the right to correct any errors displayed on websites, literature, price lists, estimates etc. without prior notice or liability.

8. We reserve the right to amend, alter or cancel any of our services and subscriptions at any time without prior notice or liability.

9. We accept no responsibility for any items you send to us that are lost in the post.

10. Refunds cannot be given once work has begun on an estimate or takeoff.  You may cancel and receive a full refund before any work is commenced.

11. In the instance of complaint, or a request for a refund this will be dealt with within a two-week period. All complaints and refund requests must be recorded via email conversation, as to keep all information accessible for reviewing purposes.

12. Should you become bankrupt or insolvent we may terminate your contract or subscriptions at our own discretion and will notify you by email.

13. Any personal data we collect from you will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and can be found on our website at https://www.theestimatingcompany.co.uk/privacy-policy

Plan Drawing Service 
(in addition to the above terms)

1. It is your responsibility to provide all the required sketches, clearly indicating design elements and accurate dimensions necessary for the ‘Self Measuring’ drawing service.

2. We reserve the right at our discretion to withhold our ‘Site Visit’ service where the project location is not within an acceptable traveling distance.

3. Our ‘Building Control’ service includes the addition of typical construction details for your project type only and are not site specific.  They include all typical construction details required for Building Control approval. 

4. It is your responsibility to ensure your local Building Control is engaged to carry out building control compliance checks on site.

5. All stated dimensions on your drawings are to be verified on site and The Estimating Company is to be notified of any discrepancies.

6. We may act as an agent to submit your drawings for planning submission on your behalf. Any application or local authority fees will be your responsibility.

7. We are not responsible for any additional reports or costs resulting from the hiring of additional professionals if requested or recommended by your Local Authority or any other third party.

8. We will make any number of amendments to your plans for free provided they are minor changes to the original works and not additional works where we receive the right to make additional charges.

9. If you cancel your drawing service for any reason after we have commenced drafting we reserve the right to charge you an amount proportional to the work we have completed.

10. We do not include structural engineers calculations in our drawings.  It is your responsibility to engage and pay for any other services required to complete your project.

11. It is your responsibility to gain any planning permission or permitted development required for your project from the relevant planning department.

12. Paper plans can be provided in A3 or A4 paper sizes only and will be posted using a carrier of our choice. Fees are available on the website.

13. Drawing service terms are in addition to all other terms and conditions.