Only a construction economist or quantity surveyor who forms a fit complex and very professional member of the construction field. Their work involves detailed technical budgeting and estimation, contractual agreements related to construction projects, and financial documents.
In simple terms, this means that these persons see to it that all the money being spent on a construction commission will never go over the established budget and meet very high-quality expectations. Such people would be considered very important in the construction world as they manage these projects’ time and financial constraints.
Responsibilities of Quantity Surveyors
Quantity surveyors play a wide range of roles both during and after the construction project. Such tasks include:
- Preparation of cost estimates along with budgeting
- Managing contracts, acquiring necessary resources
- Conducting the Analysis
- Overall management
What Does a Quantity Surveyor Do?
During building projects, Construction Cost Planner are involved in numerous activities. The primary activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Preparing construction methodologies: Quantity surveyors will conduct an in-depth analysis of how the construction work will be done, including how it will be done with what tools and materials during the construction process.
- Evaluating bids put in by contractors: They have the task of thoroughly evaluating contractor bids and giving their expert opinion or judgment based on the bids received and the best action to be taken.
- Estimating costs of built work: Mainly the preliminary costs of the future structures from an engineer’s drawings, supplying answers best suited for the design conditions.Â
- Obtain building contractor work estimates: Deal with the building contractors in academia or even the construction industry for how long it would take to complete the project.
- Management of a built structure: Surveyors will manage moving and unlocking a construction site or an engineering structure. The movement cost or relocation needs to be managed in such a way as to be completed within the bounds of the clients.
Why Are Quantity Surveyors So Important?
The quantity surveyor (QS), however, has a critical role in the building and real estate sectors, and that person is referred to as the construction cost consultant. Such experts are deemed significant players in any construction project, as their expert involvement will determine the success of such endeavors considering that these individuals are in charge of a number of construction projects’ costs and finances. It is said that project quantity surveyors are the ones who critically control the profitability of contracts.
1. Cost Management and Control
The quantity surveyor’s responsibilities involve the estimation, management, and control of costs at all stages of the construction project. Quality trade providers have a solution to the petty trades that are damaging our houses and not giving back satisfaction to the clients. This enables supplying an owner with the initial and general cost estimate so that an owner understands in totality the financial outlays connected with building task execution before executing such a task.
2. Financial Planning and Budgeting
Preparation of the budget kept by quantity surveyors includes the estimated costs, which are forecasted to be accurate at the time of project initiation. They calculate various elements, including the work done by the worker, materials consumed, and overall expenditures, to earn the expected funds within the overall budget. They are the people who are experts at financing and forecasting the financial figures for their upcoming customers without hindering them from spending unnecessary money.
3. Value Engineering
The value engineering expert is the quantity surveyor, who understands the behaviour of multiple different elements of a construction project in such a way that they make the best values in regard to costs to a client. It may involve finding possibilities to save funds while maintaining the quality up to expected standards, ensuring a successful building.
4. Risk Management
Construction projects are well known to be filled with risks, whereby cost overruns, delays, and different unforeseen circumstances occur. Quantity surveyors study everything with regard to cost and contracts, assessing for different risks that are financial in nature. The assessment will serve to mitigate events in projects that take them off course.
5. Contract Administration
A quantity surveyor knows all about contracts and sometimes between construction clients and the contractor’s intermediaries. Depending on the amount of work that has been completed, the surveyor could also be found writing contract clauses to provide assurances that all terms are understood and fair. This would save the surveyor a lot of body aches because most disputes and ignorance result in an overall better project execution.
6. Tendering Process
This is the most sensitive phase of construction, and its quantity surveyors manage this process by preparing tender documents, evaluating various bids, and so on. Such professionals are supposed to know the market rates and have in-depth knowledge of suppliers to ensure that the clients get competitive prices and quality work.
Skills Required to Become a Quantity Surveyor
The quantity surveyor should possess the following skills to perform successfully in this profession:
- Mathematical skill: There must be a strong hold over mathematics for better estimating the costs and budgeting.
- Attention to detail: It is very essential that all measures be taken while scrutinising all the requisite details to ensure accuracy in work.
- Communication Skills: Furthermore, they should communicate effectively either orally and/or in writing with clients, contractors, and other affected stakeholders.
- Problem-Dived Solution: There is usually a problem to be faced and figured out by a quantity surveyor.
- Skilled Negotiators: They negotiate contracts and prices, making the skill of negotiation all the more important.
- Analytical problem: It involves analyzing data to arrive at a decision with regard to costs and budgets.
How to Become a Quantity Surveyor
If you are interested in becoming a quantity surveyor, here are the steps you can take:
- Education: Most quantity surveyors graduated from a higher education course in quantity surveying, construction management, or a related discipline. Some may have a background in engineering or architecture. Experience is gained by working under an organization such as an intern or entry-level construction or surveying firm. Practical knowledge, in this case, is essential to understanding the industry.
- Professional Qualification: In addition to this, many of them acquire further learning by having professional qualifications from recognized bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or organizations in their country because this enhances their credibility and career prospects.
- Continuing education: Since construction is always changing, the effective quantity surveyor will always learn to keep pace with new laws, technologies, and best practices.
Final Thoughts
Aspiring builders or construction site managers will undoubtedly find the skills and techniques taught in the course useful in the future. It is credentialing in quantity surveying for all aspiring builders and managers, making it a very progressive tool for learning and career advancement.Â
Include a QS in your management team while preparing a construction project—possibly a very good thing to do now. If you will be a QS within your vocation, now is the best time to step into the transitioning field.Â
FAQS
Q1. What is the job description of a quantity surveyor?
The quantity surveyor is concerned with project costs and estimation of budgets to ensure financial efficacy in construction projects.
Q2. What is another name for a quantity surveyor?
Cost consultant is one name for a quantity surveyor.
Q3. Are quantity surveyors called engineers?
No, quantity surveyors are not generally considered engineers because they work very closely with the engineers.
Q4. What skills do you need to be a quantity surveyor?
Skills include cost management skills, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong communication abilities.
