A BOQ turns your drawings into a clear list of materials and costs, so you can compare quotes and avoid budget surprises.
Many owners start building with only a rough budget and then run short halfway through. A Bill of Quantities, usually called a BOQ, is one of the best ways to prevent that.
What a BOQ is
A BOQ is an itemised list of the materials, labour and work needed to build your house, measured from your drawings. It covers items such as excavation, blocks, concrete, roofing, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical work and finishes, each with a quantity and a rate.
Why it matters
- You get realistic budget figures instead of guesses
- You can compare contractors fairly, because everyone prices the same list
- You reduce wastage by ordering the right quantities
- You control variations, because changes can be measured against the original list
What a BOQ depends on
A BOQ is only as good as the drawings behind it. Complete architectural and structural drawings are essential, because missing details lead to missing items and surprise costs.
How to use your BOQ
- Get the BOQ before you hire a contractor
- Ask each contractor to price the same BOQ
- Check that rates and quantities make sense
- Use it to plan your spending stage by stage
For guidance on picking the right builder, read how to choose a building contractor in Nigeria.
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Choose a ready-made plan from our house plans, or get support through our project management and supervision and engineering consultancy services. Contact us to discuss your project.