Professional construction cost estimates delivered in 48 hours — priced on what Canberra tradies actually charge, not a national database run from overseas.
The problem
For small builders and tradies, spending 3–4 hours putting together a quote for a job you might not even win is a losing game. That time should be on the tools, not on spreadsheets.
Generic national rate databases don't reflect what local subcontractors are actually charging right now. An estimate priced off Sydney or Melbourne rates will get you into trouble in the ACT.
When an architect presents a concept and the client later discovers the real build cost is $300k over budget, trust is broken before a sod is turned. Early cost clarity prevents this entirely.
Buying land or commissioning full documentation before you have a reliable cost indication is an expensive risk. A $700 preliminary estimate can validate or kill a $1M decision.
of Australian construction projects incur a cost overrun — with the average blowout sitting between 9–20% after contracts are awarded.*
*Grattan Institute / iseekplant.com.au
The process
Four steps. 48 hours. A professional PDF you can actually use.
Submit your architectural plans, project brief, or scope of works via our intake form. No plans yet? A written brief works too.
We measure every item from your plans using Bluebeam — concrete, framing, roofing, finishes, services. No guesswork, no rule-of-thumb m² rates.
We price every trade against a live Canberra-specific rate sheet — updated quarterly and cross-checked with current market intelligence from hands-on involvement in the local construction industry.
You receive a professional line-by-line cost estimate as a PDF within 48 hours, complete with assumptions, exclusions, and a clear disclaimer for budgeting use.
Pricing
Every job is quoted at a fixed price. You know the cost before we start.
Small jobs
Fixed fee, per estimate
★ Most popular
Fixed fee, per estimate
Complex jobs
Fixed fee, per estimate
Best value — Monthly retainer
Per month · up to 4 estimates
Why ConEst
Tired of offshore estimates that don't reflect what Canberra builders actually charge? ConEst is 100% local, 100% accurate, delivered in 48 hours.
We're embedded in the Canberra construction industry every day. The rates we apply aren't from a national database — they reflect what ACT subcontractors and suppliers are quoting right now.
Standard industry turnaround is 5–10 business days. We deliver within 48 hours as standard — because a builder waiting on a quote is a builder who can't move forward.
Founded by someone who has run their own trade business, is studying construction management, and works daily inside the Canberra construction industry. We know what we're talking about.
We don't claim to be a registered quantity surveyor. ConEst is a fast, affordable preliminary estimating service — ideal for budgeting and feasibility before full QS documentation is warranted.
ConEst vs the alternatives
About
I'm Ben Vardy — 20 years old, based in Canberra, and currently working inside the commercial construction industry here in the ACT. I'm also studying Construction Management at the University of Canberra.
Before this, I ran my own trade business, working alongside dozens of Canberra builders, tradies, and subbies. I know this market. I know what things cost here.
ConEst exists because I kept seeing the same problem: builders spending hours quoting, architects presenting budgets that blew up, developers guessing at feasibility. A fast, affordable, locally-accurate estimate service was the gap. So I built one.
Work with me →Get started
Contact
Standard turnaround from receiving your plans. Rush jobs under 24 hours available for an additional fee.
Send through your details and we'll be in touch within a few hours.
Important disclaimer: All estimates produced by ConEst are preliminary in nature and are intended for budgeting and feasibility purposes only. They do not constitute a formal quantity survey, a contract sum, or a guarantee of final construction costs. ConEst is not a registered quantity surveyor. Actual construction costs may vary materially from any estimate provided, due to site conditions, design changes, contractor pricing, market fluctuations, and other factors beyond our control. All estimates should be verified by a licensed builder or registered quantity surveyor before financial commitments are made. ConEst accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of a preliminary estimate alone. ABN: 19 943 763 688.