Why one €/m² figure is not enough
Two villas with the same floor area can have very different construction costs. Site access, slope, excavation, retaining structures, structural spans, glazing, façade systems, energy systems, joinery, landscaping and pool works can all move the budget materially.
Use cost per square metre only as an early modelling input, never as a substitute for a project-specific scope and estimate.
Build your own planning estimate
This tool does not claim a market rate. Enter the €/m² assumption supplied by your architect, quantity surveyor or contractor, then add your own allowance for items outside that base figure.
Structure the budget in layers
A clearer early budget normally separates: the main build; design and technical services; surveys and studies; municipal charges; utility connections; external works; pool and landscaping; kitchen and fitted furniture; specialist systems; and a project contingency.
That structure makes comparisons between contractor proposals more meaningful because you can see what is included, excluded or simply not yet defined.
Plot-related cost drivers
The plot can be one of the biggest sources of budget variation. Before locking the design, review levels, access for machinery, excavation, retaining requirements, drainage, existing services and how materials will move through the site.
A difficult plot is not necessarily a bad plot, but its construction consequences should be visible before the design is fully developed.
Specification choices
Large-format glazing, bespoke joinery, natural stone, complex lighting, home automation, high-performance climate systems and external kitchens can all be valid choices. The key is to define them early enough that they are part of the budget rather than late-stage surprises.
What to ask for in a quote
Ask for a scope that is explicit about quantities, materials or quality levels, provisional sums, exclusions, payment milestones, programme assumptions and the treatment of changes. A lower total is not automatically a lower final cost if major items sit outside the proposal.
Share your plot or project documents if you want First Estate Construction to review the construction scope.