A simple, straightforward process designed to help you receive accurate, itemised estimates quickly — with no complexity and no wasted time.
HotCost is built around an easy workflow that fits perfectly into the way UK contractors, builders and QS teams operate. Whether you’re pricing a small refurbishment or a large commercial project, using our service takes only a few steps.
Fast turnaround and excellent communication.
“We use HotCost regularly now. Their reports are always structured, easy to follow and delivered within the agreed timeframe.”
Sarah T., Construction Manager, Manchester
01
Send Us Your Drawings or Specifications
Upload your drawings through our secure form, or email them directly to our estimating team. We accept:
PDF drawings
DWG files
Specifications and schedules
Marked-up drawings or sketches
The clearer the documents, the smoother the process — but we also work comfortably with mixed or incomplete files.
02
We Review Your Documents
Once received, we carry out a quick scope review to understand:
Reports are structured to support commercial reviews, engineering coordination and client presentations.
03
Quotation & Approval
For most projects, we provide a fixed-fee quote based on complexity and scope. Your quote includes:
Turnaround time
Deliverables (PDF, Excel, or both)
Any assumptions
Pricing for all disciplines requested
Our team understands UK building regulations, industry standards, and regional pricing variations — ensuring each report reflects real-world conditions..
04
Measurement & Pricing
Our experienced estimators manually measure all quantities using UK-standard methods and apply structured labour, plant and material rates.
You can expect:
Accurate measured take-offs
Itemised trades and activities
Clear breakdowns suitable for tendering
05
Receive Your Estimate
When your estimate is complete, you’ll receive:
A professionally formatted report
All trades clearly structured
Labour, material and quantity details
A transparent, itemised breakdown
We can deliver in:
Excel (.xlsx)
PDF
CSV (on request)
If you need adjustments, revisions or further clarification, we’re happy to help.
FAQs
Q. What if my drawings are incomplete?
We can still prepare an estimate and note any assumptions clearly.
Q. What file formats do you accept?
We can still prepare an estimate and note any assumptions clearly.
Q. Do you work with all project sizes?
We can still prepare an estimate and note any assumptions clearly.
Ready to begin?
Send us your drawings today and get a fast, accurate estimate for your next project.
