So just what
does a Quantity Surveyor do ?
Basically, the Quantity Surveyor is the person responsible for
figuring out just what a building is going to cost and in some cases for making
sure that construction costs and production are managed as efficiently as
possible.
A Quantity Surveyor can identify and collate the costs involved in order to
develop an overall budget for any project. They can then undertake cost planning
which aims to help all members of the design team arrive at practical solutions
and stay within the project budget. It is the final detailed estimate prepared
by the Quantity Surveyors, in consultation with a project architect, which forms
a basis on which subsequent tenders can be evaluated. Schedules of quantities
translate the drawing, plans and specifications produced by the design team to
enable each contractor to calculate tender prices fairly, on exactly the same
basis as the competitors.
Once tenders have been accepted, the Quantity Surveyor can provide cash flow
data to enable a client to programme his resources adequately to meet contract
commitments. In other words, the Quantity Surveyor decides how much of a job
should be paid for at any one time. With interest rates the way they are, no one
wants to hand over money before it is due.
In most construction contracts, the contractor is paid monthly and the Quantity
Surveyor can value the work carried out each month submitting a recommendation
for certified payment.
The Quantity Surveyor can also be called on to assess cost effects when changes
occur and agree on variation with contractors.
Following completion of a contract, the Quantity Surveyor prepares a statement
of final account, summarising the cost charges that have occurred and arriving
at a final contract sum.