Home/How It Works/Open-Book Pricing

Open book. Line by line. No exceptions.

Most builder quotes look like a single number. Ours looks like a spreadsheet — one you can read, audit, and take to your accountant. Here's why we've priced every Ashcroft project this way, and how it works in practice.

The principle

If we can't show you the maths, we shouldn't be the builder.

A residential build is the largest cheque most of our clients have ever written. The idea that the person cashing it should hand you a single bottom-line number and ask you to trust it — quietly — has never sat well with us.

So we don't. Every Ashcroft cost plan is built line by line: each sub-trade quote, each material line, each council fee, each contingency. You see the ones we accepted. You see the ones we turned down and why. You see our margin stated plainly, not buried.

It's slower to build a quote this way. It's also the single biggest reason our reviews keep using the same word: trust.

Completed Ashcroft kitchen, white cabinetry with pendant lighting and stone benchtop.

How it works

What you actually receive.

Open book isn't a slogan. It's three specific documents, handed to you at three specific moments of the project. Here's what each one contains.

1. Concept cost plan

At the end of the feasibility stage, before resource consent is lodged. Typically 4–6 pages.

Line-by-line indicative costs across 12 major categories (siteworks, foundation, frame, etc.)
A confidence range for each line (typically ±8%)
Our margin and overhead — stated, not implied
The three biggest risks to the number, and what we're doing about each

2. Full contract cost plan

Once consent is granted. Typically 20–40 pages. This is the number you sign.

Every sub-trade quote we received — including the ones we didn't use, with reasons
Every material unit cost and quantity take-off
Fixed-price contract covering everything priced
Contingency line — accessible only with your written sign-off

3. Fortnightly progress report

Throughout construction. Tracks the cost plan against actual spend.

Every invoice received and paid, reconciled against the cost plan line
Milestone progress against the schedule
Any variation requests (from you) or cost-saves (from us) with impact
Photo update of the build

A price on the land

Start with a number that fits your site.

Our free site evaluation returns a rough build-cost range based on recent Ashcroft projects of similar typology, on similar-sized sites, with comparable site complexity. It's a first number — not a contract — but it's grounded in real Auckland data, not a guess.

Book a free site evaluation

Numbers you'll hear us quote

Orders of magnitude, from recent Ashcroft projects. Your site will vary.

From $4,200 / m²
Zelo-series duplex, good site access, standard spec

From $4,800 / m²
Dartford terrace, mid spec, typical subdivision

From $5,600 / m²
Lincoln or Highgate standalone, premium spec

Guide ranges only. Your cost plan is priced against your specific site, specification and consent pathway.