Terms of service

1. Who we are

CouncilQS is a service of EstiFlow Estimates Pty Ltd (ABN 46 696 116 435), based in Sydney. In these terms, "we", "us" and "our" mean EstiFlow Estimates Pty Ltd. "You" means the person who uses this website or places an order.

2. Accepting these terms

By using this website or placing an order, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not place an order.

3. The service

We prepare an estimated development cost report for one residential development application, from the documents and details you supply. The report is prepared to Planning Circular PS 25-004 and the AIQS practice standard. It is certified and signed by a registered quantity surveyor, a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. We deliver it as a PDF.

4. What the report is, and what it is not

4.1 A figure for the planning system

The report states the estimated development cost of the development, as section 6 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 defines it. A consent authority uses that figure for the approval pathway and the application fee.

4.2 Not a builder's price

The report is not a builder's price. It is not a quote, a tender sum, a contract sum, a construction budget or a valuation, and it does not certify the final cost of construction. Do not rely on it to agree a building contract.

4.3 Not a contributions calculation

The report does not calculate section 7.11 or section 7.12 contributions, or any other statutory fee or charge. Section 7.12 levies run on a separate basis under section 208 of the Regulation. We can prepare that worksheet on request.

4.4 Who may rely on it

The report is prepared for the consent authority and the applicant it names, for the application it identifies. No one else may rely on it, and it may not be used for another development, without the written consent of the quantity surveyor who signs it.

4.5 Council decisions

Each consent authority decides how it treats an estimate. We do not promise that a council will accept a report without questions.

5. What you agree to do

• Supply complete and current documents for the application, and accurate project details.
• Only upload documents you are authorised to share with us.
• Tell us if the plans, the scope or the intended start date change before you lodge.
• Lodge the report within 30 days of its date, or ask us to re-date it before you lodge.
• Not copy, resell or alter a report, or present an altered report as ours.

6. Turnaround

We deliver your report within 24 hours. In full, the turnaround is 24 hours from receipt of payment and a complete plan set, Monday to Friday. Orders received after 2 pm Friday are delivered by Monday.

If the documents are incomplete, we will ask you for what is missing. The turnaround starts when we have a complete plan set.

7. Council queries and reissues

If a council queries the figure, we supply the working. If the council names a specific item we missed, we reissue the report at the corrected quantity at no charge. A report for changed plans or a changed scope is a new order.

8. Price and payment

The price is A$999 inc GST for each report. Prices are in Australian dollars and include GST. You pay by card at checkout, through our payment provider Stripe. We issue a tax invoice for every order.

9. Refunds

If our quantity surveyor cannot certify a report from the documents supplied, we refund the order in full. Our refund policy sets out the other cases.

10. Limitation of liability

To the extent the law allows, our total liability for an order is limited to the amount you paid for it. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of, or reliance on, a report.

11. Intellectual property

You keep all rights in the documents you upload. We keep all rights in our methods, templates and website. Each report is licensed to you for the application it identifies.

12. Your documents

We store uploaded documents securely and handle them under our privacy policy. Documents and reports are kept for 12 months after delivery. An unpaid order, and the documents uploaded to it, is deleted within 14 days.

13. Accounts

You do not need an account to order. If you create one, keep your sign-in details secure. We may suspend an account that breaches these terms. You can ask us to delete your account at any time.

14. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. The courts of New South Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute about them.

15. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. The version on this page when you place an order applies to that order.

16. Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy you have under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010), or under any other law that cannot be excluded by agreement.

Contact

For questions about these terms, email info@councilqs.com.au.