If you have been a part of several construction projects, either as part of the team or as a client, you may have heard about quantity surveyors.
Have you ever wondered who these quantity surveyors are and what their role is in the construction project?
Quantity surveyors are important parts of any construction project because they are basically responsible for seeing how much a project is going to cost the construction company, whether it is a few thousand dollars or several million dollars.
The origins of this profession can be traced back to the 19th century when measurers were employed to prepare a schedule for any building project and quantify all labor activities, construction materials, and other similar expenses and resources. With this schedule set as a fixed minimum, various builders put in their own quotations or tenders. The measurers were often specialist tradesmen from the guild.
Today’s quantity surveyors work closely with architects, engineers, building owners, financiers, accountants, builders, insurance underwriters, subcontractors, and solicitors. Surveying requires a deep knowledge of the costs involved in small and large construction jobs and performing the roles of a quantity surveyor as mentioned below.
Role of quantity surveyor
Before the project
a. Studying feasibility of the project
b. Estimating to define the budget of the project
c. Analyzing the effects that design changes may have on the project budget
d. Refining the budget for greater cost accuracy as the project design takes shape
e. Preparing Bills of Quantities, if tenders are needed
During the project,
a. Keeping the cost of the project in control and within the budget specified
b. Assessing the progress reported by the contractor
c. Assessing delays or changes in the project reported by the contractor
d. Procuring specialist labor and subcontractors for carrying out specialist works
e. Negotiating and settling accounts with various parties involved in the project
f. Reporting and forecasting monthly costs
g. Negotiating monthly payments and making agreements for the work that has been done so far
After the project:
a. Calculating the final project cost
b. Preparing tax depreciation reports for property owners and company investors
c. Assessing and filing of witness reports for helping settle building disputes, if any
As you can see, a quantity surveyor’s role goes beyond just managing the daily running costs of building and construction projects and keeping them in line with the specified and approved budget. The surveyor also deals with forecasting future project costs and values, forming sub-contracts, and much more. The vast responsibilities of a quantity surveying job have led to greater demand for properly qualified candidates with related degrees from registered universities.
