Budget review · Canada
You already have a number. Find out if it holds.
An independent review of the budget you received from a broker, designer or contractor: scope, assumptions, exclusions and contingency, before it goes to finance, the board or a signature.
Typical turnaround: under 6 business days after we receive the documents · Paid by you only
The number you received
$3,900,000
Contractor budget, 15,000 sq ft office
- Scope matches the test-fit—
- IT and AV excluded+$420K
- 5% contingency, low for the class+$310K
- Landlord work not definedto confirm
- Taxes and escalation included—
Xenofan, since 2026
Who gave you the number, and what it was built for.
The broker
Built to close the deal.
Often a cost per square foot set against the landlord's allowance. Rarely the exclusions, contingency or soft costs.
The designer
Built to fit the design brief.
Often without furniture, IT and AV, escalation, or the other consultants' fees.
The contractor
Built to price a defined scope.
It prices what is drawn. What is not drawn yet is not in the number.
None of them is wrong. None of them is built to be defended in front of a finance committee.
Six things we check.
- 01
Scope
Does the number really cover your needs, headcount and move-in date?
- 02
Assumptions
Quality, working hours, building conditions: what was assumed, and is it realistic?
- 03
Exclusions
IT, AV, furniture, moving, permits, landlord work: what is missing, priced.
- 04
Contingency
Does it fit the estimate class and the level of uncertainty?
- 05
Escalation, taxes and location
Are costs escalated to the construction year, with the right taxes and location factor?
- 06
Unit rates
Compared with similar projects, using our benchmark data.
What you receive
What the number holds, and what it is missing.
- A written, signed review
- Findings ranked by their cost impact
- Missing items, priced
- A reviewed range, with its basis stated
- The questions to put to the author of the number
- Our view: ready for approval, or not yet
What we need from you
The number, and what came with it.
- The budget or quote you received, with any detail available
- The test-fit or drawings, if any
- The lease terms and landlord allowance, if any
- Your target move-in date
Comparing several contractor bids that don't line up? We reconcile them line by line.
From the number you received to a number you can defend.
- 01 · Call
Understand the decision
What you need to approve, by when, and in front of whom.
- 02 · Documents
Receive the number
The budget or quote, and everything that came with it.
- 03 · Review
Check the six points
Scope, assumptions, exclusions, contingency, escalation and unit rates.
- 04 · Decision
Walk through the findings
A written review, and a meeting to walk your team through it.
Typical turnaround: under 6 business days after we receive the documents.
An independent opinion, with a name on it.
- 15 years in cost estimating
- Both sides of the table: owner and contractor
- Halved budget-at-completion variance across a national portfolio
- Fee not tied to the outcome
- Our fee is the same whether your project proceeds or not.
- One project. One role. Never both.
- If we give the cost opinion on a project, we do not bid on it, build it or manage it.
- Principal-led
- From the first call to the final report.
Questions
No number yet? Get a pre-design budget opinion →
Do you redo the whole estimate?
No. We review the existing number and price what is missing. If the basis is too thin to review, we tell you, and we can prepare an independent estimate.
Who sees the review?
Only you. If you wish, we can discuss it with the author of the number to get the missing details.
Can you review contractor bids?
Yes. We reconcile the bids line by line, so you compare like with like before you choose.
Do you review a project you also deliver?
Never. If we review a project's budget, we do not bid on it, build it or manage it.
What does a budget review cost?
The fee depends on the size of the project and the documents received. You receive a written proposal before we start, and the fee stays the same whether the project proceeds or not.
Tell us about your project
Before you commit, test the number.
Tell us where your number came from, what you need to approve, and by when. We will tell you what we need to review it.
Or write to info@xenofan.ca