What is a Quantity Surveyor?
A Quantity Surveyor (QS) is a person responsible for calculating what a construction project is likely to cost at the outset, with this budget regularly amended during the design development process.
The QS will typically provide advice to a client on the best means of procurement, provide tender documentation and oversee the tender process.
Thereafter post contract services can be provided to include contract administration, monthly valuations and final account negotiations.
A QS is vital to ensure good and accurate cost control.
Why Use a Quantity Surveyor?
- Before a project commences, calculate a budget based on the client's requirements, often on a stage by stage basis.
- Managing the finances for any kind of construction project.
- Working to keep the project on time, within the budget and to an agreed specification.
- Making sure that construction costs and production are managed as efficiently as possible.
- Resolving disputes between contracting parties.
- Preparing insurance reinstatement costs for building insurance purposes.
- Potentially acting as Principal Designer as required by the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015.
For accurate cost forecasting and efficient management of changes before and during a construction project, a quantity surveyor is a crucial member of the project team.
Quantity Surveyor's main roles include:
Typical Services
As Chartered Quantity Surveyors, Stiles & Co can fulfil this role independently or as part of our wider project management service.
Pre - Construction
We can help with feasibility studies for a project and estimate what is involved in a project based on approximate quantities taken from measurements of design drawings and outline specifications.
The Quantity Surveyor studies the project plans and identifies the costs involved and sets an over all estimated budget for the project.
We can plan costs to help the design team stay with in the project budget using practical solutions. This is called Value Engineering (VE).
Construction Phase
Once building starts, we can provide cash flow data so the client can arrange the finances needed for each stage of the project.
We can also assess cost effects arising from variations, time implications and any delays to the construction programme.
Resolving disputes between clients, designers and building contractors is another role for some projects.
Your Finances
It is our objective to ensure that the finances of your project are managed, keep projects running on time and within budget.
If required a detailed cost report can be provided for a bank, combined with project monitoring to assist clients with drawing down funds related to project finance.