The Role of the QS

Traditionally (that word again) the role of the QS is advice.

Advice on Budget, Procurement, Contract and Managing the costs throughout the building process.

To briefly explain a process of procurement.

When a client wishes a building to be procured probably his primary concern is cost and value for money. His first port of call could be an Architect or Designer to sketch out his scheme. But how much will this cost?

Turn to the Quantity Surveyor. There are many ways of advising on cost but all condense to a Budget Estimate in one form or another.

As the design progresses we can Cost Plan the project.

Subject to this cost advise being accepted his next step is to advance the design and Procure the contactor and advise on the best Form of Contract to use This can take many forms and the QS is there to advise at every step.

So the type of Contract has been chosen and the Documents sent out to tender, tenders returned and advised on by the QS.

The next stage is to build the project.

The QS is there to manage the costs and advise on any cost changes during the construction, value the works as they progress and agree the final costs with the contractor.

Job Description: ‘A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating to building projects. From the initial calculations to the final figures, surveyors seek to minimise the costs of a project and enhance value for money, whilst still achieving the required standards and quality. Many of these are specified by statutory building regulations which the surveyor needs to understand and adhere to.’