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JournalArticleConstruction2 min read

Reading a bill of quantities before you sign

A bill of quantities can look like an accountant's spreadsheet. Learning to read one is the best protection an owner has against surprises in the final invoice.

Aerial view of foundations and ground floor walls on a building site in Bali

Most owners first meet a bill of quantities, often shortened to BOQ, attached to a contractor's quote. It is usually long and dense with technical terms, and easy to skip in favour of the total on the last page. That total is only as reliable as the lines above it, so the lines deserve a closer look.

What a BOQ is

A bill of quantities breaks a building into measurable items: cubic metres of concrete, square metres of tiling, linear metres of skirting, the number of doors and sockets. Each item carries a quantity and a rate, and the two multiplied give the line price. Group those lines together and you have the cost of the foundations, the structure, the roof and every other part of the house.

What to check first

Begin with the quantities. Compare them against the drawings where you can, or ask how they were measured. Quantities that look rounded or generous on every line can hint that the measuring was done in a hurry.

Then look at the specifications. A line reading "floor tiles" means little without the material and a price range. Two contractors can both write "floor tiles" and be thinking of products that differ fivefold in cost.

After that, find the provisional sums. These are allowances for items not yet specified, and they are where final budgets most often grow. If a provisional sum for the kitchen looks modest, it probably is.

Last, read the exclusions. Boundary walls, septic systems, landscaping and connection fees are often left out quietly, and none of them are optional for a finished home.

That total is only as reliable as the lines above it.

Payments tied to progress

A well structured BOQ also makes fair payment schedules possible. Instead of paying fixed percentages on fixed dates, payments can follow measured progress, so many cubic metres of concrete poured or so many square metres of roof covered. This keeps money and work in step, which protects owner and contractor alike.

How we use it

At BODE Construction the BOQ is the backbone of every project. It is shared with the owner before signing, and it is the reference for every change order. If something is added or removed during construction, the BOQ is updated and the new total is agreed in writing before the work goes ahead.

If you have a quote in front of you and would like a second pair of eyes on it, BODE Procurement offers exactly that review. Either way, reading the lines before the total is a habit worth keeping.

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