Survey of Procedures Adopted by A/E Firms in Accounting for Design Variables in Early Cost Estimates

The success or failure of a construction project depends on the reliability of the cost estimates prepared, especially those in the early phase of its development. The objectives of this study were to investigate the early cost estimating techniques and the procedures adopted by A/E firms in accounting for design variables in the early cost estimates they prepare for residential buildings. These were achieved through the administration of a structured questionnaire. Nineteen A/E firms, practicing in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, participated in the survey. The survey results revealed that most of the A/E firms do not utilize specialized software packages in carrying out estimating services, any systematic procedures in accounting for design variables, or any models developed by construction researchers. The consequences of mal-assessment of the cost implications of design variables were also revealed by the study. Keywords: A/E firms, Design variables, Early cost estimates, Estimating technique