Construction is a complicated process and the industry making it happen comes with multiple levels. However, profitability and quality reign supreme throughout. Whichever level your business fits into the process, neglecting to hire a quantity surveyor will spell disaster for you later.

Quantity surveying is a discipline that blends construction, engineering, and economics. There’s much emphasis on the last part, although there are many other tasks that it covers. Therefore, it’s not something that someone inexperienced can handle.

What a quantity surveyor does

They’re responsible for figuring out how much a construction project is going to cost. Part of being paid their quantity surveyor salary is to ensure that costs and production are handled as efficiently as possible.

Their title stems from the fact that they prepare a schedule of quantities, which are the estimates of the labour and material costs, that the contractors’ tenders can be measured against. This schedule is also called a cost estimate.

Their alternative titles include ‘cost engineer’, ‘cost consultant’, “commercial manager’, and ‘cost manager’. Some call them ‘project cost controller’, ‘project coordinator’, ‘cost analyst’, or ‘estimator’ as well.

Their tasks vary according to whether they’re working on the construction or design stage of the project. It also matters whether they’re working for the contractor building the project, or the consultancy designing it.

Main roles:

• Managing the finances for any project;
• Choosing and sourcing construction materials;
• Forecasting cost of the materials needed;
• Keeping the project on schedule;
• Drawing up contracts, bills of quantities, and other documents;
• Keeping the work within the budget;
• Tracking changes to the work;
• Adjusting budget projections;
• Ensuring efficient management of costs and production;
• Measuring the value of on-site work accomplished;
• Resolving disputes between the contracting parties;
• Paying the subcontractors;
• Preparing insurance replacement estimates for buildings;
• Liaising with clients, site engineers, managers, and more;
• Writing reports on the budget and so on.

The list of tasks involved can go beyond what has been mentioned above. In some cases, they may also perform roles associated with estate agents. These include conducting pre-acquisition surveys, investigating defects, negotiating dilapidation, assessing insurance, and assisting with claims.

What to gain from a quantity surveyor

Now that you’re aware what they do, it’s time to learn what your business could gain from hiring one.

They help you avoid pitfalls and risks

They warn you when ballpark figures or back-of-the-envelope calculations are unreliable or inaccurate. Instead, they provide you with cash projections that allow you to plan your budget ahead of time and avoid surprises.

You’ll avoid overpaying for materials among other monetary issues too.

They uncover opportunities to save money

Lots of chances to cut costs fly under the radar because you fail to recognise them. The good news is that a quantity surveyor is familiar with the ins and outs of construction and design, so they know where you can save.

They advise you to make decisions that ease your financial burdens.

They estimate how long projects take

While this is standard procedure for them, it’s a big plus for you since you can rest assured that you’re staying on schedule. They closely monitor the process and report back to you on the progress made.

This reduces the risk of delays and other setbacks significantly.

They get things off your plate

It’s always a smart move to outsource tasks that consume too much time or require special expertise. This way, you’ll be able to focus on other aspects of your business that you’re passionate about.

Quantity surveying is definitely something best left in the hands of an expert.

They serve as your representative

When you need an ally in situations where conflicts arise between property owner and builder, they’re there to provide the support you need. They offer you both comfort and advice during the mediation process so things are easier to manage and go along more smoothly.

They are educated for the job

You’ll find that allotting a quantity surveyor salary to your expenses saves you money in the long run. You don’t need to sponsor them for a postgraduate conversion course or a graduate scheme in commercial management, cost management, or quantity surveying.

You won’t have to pay for professional qualification either.

They make a depreciation schedule

Fittings and fixtures in newly built property will depreciate over time. An accurate depreciation schedule enables you to take advantage of tax savings, among other benefits.

Rather than immediately recover their purchase costs, you can cover them over the asset’s lifespan using the appropriate amount of revenue.

Which companies need a quantity surveyor?

If you happen to own or manage any of the following types of business, it’s advised that you add a surveyor to your team sooner rather than later.

• Construction and engineering consultancy
• Construction and engineering contractor
• Specialist cost management consultancy
• Architectural practice
• Property developer
• Property firm
• Utility company
• Infrastructure company
• Public sector organisation

The construction industry is where a lot of money is spent so tensions tend to fly high. Having a specialist present to handle financial matters can help ease people’s worries, including your own.

How to hire a quantity surveyor

Hiring an independent surveyor seems counter-intuitive when you’re working with a set budget or trying to save money. However, the value they bring to the projects makes them a sound investment.

If you’d like to learn more about where to find a quantity surveyor to add to your ranks, we at Remote Workmate are the right agency to contact. We’ll be able to connect you with top candidates for you to choose from.