A house estimate differs from a renovation estimate in scale and in the fact that the money is almost always spent in stages. So it is built stage by stage, each one a closed section with its own total that can be completed, accepted and paid for separately.
Stages that work in practice
Site preparation; foundations; structure — walls, floors, roof frame; roof and weathertight shell, including windows and external doors, which is the natural pause point; services; facade; internal works; and external areas.
Give each stage its own subtotal: the client sees what the next section costs, the bank gets a basis for releasing the loan in tranches, and you avoid fixing a price for finishes a year ahead.
What the estimate does not cover
LBN 501-17 puts construction supervision, author supervision, survey and design work and expert review outside the works estimate — they belong in the client's summary estimate. Land purchase and running costs after handover are outside it too. Worth spelling out to a private client, who often assumes the estimate total is everything up to the key.
Contingency and price validity
Building takes months and material prices move. Carry a contingency for unforeseen work and state clearly on what date prices are fixed and for how long.
If the build is financed by a loan, see estimate for a bank; a ready form is the Excel template.