Whether you’re a contractor tendering for a major construction project or a private individual building an expensive home, it would serve you well to hire a quantity surveyor to control the cost of the project. The job description includes cost planning, timetable creation, value engineering, feasibility studies, as well as work and work packages valuation. In more comprehensible terms, quantity surveyors are construction cost consultants.

How do all these activities help your project? First and foremost, having a quantity surveyor on board provides certainty in key areas. They will do the following:

• Ascertain that costs are based on current tendered market pricing.
• Benchmark against other projects as well as provide metrics for comparing and making decisions.
• Issue valuable advice on strategies in order to stay within the budget and timeframe all throughout the project.
• Calculate and explain all possible costs – operational, ongoing and life – for the sake of future-proofing.

A quantity surveyor also works to minimise and manage the risks usually associated with construction projects. To accomplish this, he will:

• Provide due diligence reporting in aid of strategic decision making.
• Advise on possible risks as well as opportunities in areas such as design variations, project program planning, subcontracting and government permits.
• Provide procurement recommendations that suit the project.
• Identify risks related to cost, time, quality, safety and environment protection as well as craft strategies to minimise them.

In hiring a quantity surveyor, you benefit the project with the services of a professional who will work to maximise its efficacy and efficiency. A high-quality quantity surveyor has the following attributes and qualifications:

• Competence and professional capability ascertained by formal assessments and tests from industry peers.
• Significant market experience that demonstrates a commitment to excellence and professional code of conduct.
• In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of his craft supported by continuing professional development.
• Respected authority in relation to cost and risk management.
• Certainty and assurance that empower clients to make good, informed choices in the course of the project.
• Holistic service delivery supported by a genuine understanding of project requirements and desired outcomes.
• Expertise in minimising costs while achieving best value for money at the same time, reducing risks, and achieving set goals.
• Efficiency in handling and resolving claims and disputes should they arise.

All these are delivered by an excellent quantity surveyor, ultimately saving you time and money as well as sparing you from the usual headaches present in a construction project. The service is, without a doubt, a wise investment.

If you’d like to learn more about how a Quantity Surveyor can help you on your next project, please get in touch.