Housing Cost & Time Estimator

What the Housing Cost & Time Estimator Does

1. Enter Your House Specifications
   • Floor area (m²) – Specify the size of the home.
   • Bathrooms – Choose how many bathrooms are needed.
   • Include Kitchen? – Opt to include a kitchen in the estimate.
   • Finishes – Select from Basic, Standard, or Premium finishes.
   • Site Access – Indicate whether access is Easy, Normal, or Difficult.
   • Coastal? – State whether the location is coastal (which can affect materials/cost).
   • Urgency – Choose either Normal or Rushed, which influences timeline.
2. Specify Off-Grid Solar Needs (if desired)
   • Toggle Include PV/Off-Grid?
   • Input Daily kWh usage—how much energy you expect to use each day.
   • Input Days autonomy—the number of days you need the system to cover without sun.
3. Submit Contact Details
   • Provide Name, Email, and Phone to calculate and save the estimate as a lead.
4. View Cost & Time Estimate
   • Gets you a preliminary estimate of:
     • Cost Range
     • Time in Weeks required to complete
   • Clear note: “Preliminary estimate only. Structural engineer approval required.”

What’s Included—and What’s Implied

• Multiple Housing Types: While the actual estimator form doesn’t explicitly label different build styles, the broader EcoCab SA site covers timber homes, brick homes, and container homes. This implies the estimator can generate estimates for each type, possibly offering separate columns or options per form submission.
• Off-Grid PV System Sizing: If you opt in, the estimator helps determine approximate solar panel and battery system sizing by calculating based on your daily usage and autonomy requirement.

Summary Table

This estimator is a helpful tool for quickly comparing cost and timeline scenarios across different construction types, combined with solar PV system sizing. It’s ideal for early-stage planning, giving you a solid ballpark before engaging structural engineers or finalizing build strategies.