Duties
of the Quantity Surveyor
of the Quantity Surveyor
1. Preliminary Cost Advice
The quantity surveyor gives practical advice on:
The quantity surveyor gives practical advice on:
• The likely cost of the
scheme – however complicated or unusual it may be.
scheme – however complicated or unusual it may be.
• The comparative costs
of alternative layouts, materials, components and methods of construction. •
The likely duration of project.
of alternative layouts, materials, components and methods of construction. •
The likely duration of project.
• The likely cost of
future maintenance and operating costs. The quantity surveyor can, from the
client’s brief, prepare a realistic budget and a cost plan showing the
distribution of costs over the various elements.
future maintenance and operating costs. The quantity surveyor can, from the
client’s brief, prepare a realistic budget and a cost plan showing the
distribution of costs over the various elements.
2. Cost Planning Cost planning is a specialist technique used by
quantity surveyor’s, which aims to help all members of the design team to
arrive jointly at practical and efficient designs for the project and to keep
within the budget. Once a realistic estimate is set from the cost plan,
constant monitoring reduces the risk of overspending by noting problem areas at
an early stage and applying prompt corrective action.
quantity surveyor’s, which aims to help all members of the design team to
arrive jointly at practical and efficient designs for the project and to keep
within the budget. Once a realistic estimate is set from the cost plan,
constant monitoring reduces the risk of overspending by noting problem areas at
an early stage and applying prompt corrective action.
3. Contractual Methods The quantity surveyor can advise on the best
type of tendering and the best form of contract that will best suit a specific
project. The quantity surveyor prepares the documents for obtaining the tenders
and arranging the contract.
type of tendering and the best form of contract that will best suit a specific
project. The quantity surveyor prepares the documents for obtaining the tenders
and arranging the contract.
4. Bill of Quantities Competitive tendering remains a common basis for
selection of contractor and bills of quantities are fundamental to the process.
Bills translate the drawings into a document listing in detail all the
component parts required for a project so that each contractor can calculate
tender prices on exactly the same basis as his competitors. During
construction, the bill forms the basis for preparing interim valuations,
pricing of variations and effective cost control.
selection of contractor and bills of quantities are fundamental to the process.
Bills translate the drawings into a document listing in detail all the
component parts required for a project so that each contractor can calculate
tender prices on exactly the same basis as his competitors. During
construction, the bill forms the basis for preparing interim valuations,
pricing of variations and effective cost control.
5. Choice of contractor The quantity surveyor analyses tenders and
makes recommendations to the client for contractor selection after taking into
consideration other factors such as the contractors reputation and past
performance.
makes recommendations to the client for contractor selection after taking into
consideration other factors such as the contractors reputation and past
performance.
6. Contract Administration The quantity surveyor acts with the
architect or engineer to ensure that the financial provisions of the contract
are properly interpreted and applied so that the client’s financial interest is
safeguarded and that the builder is paid the proper price for the work. He also
exercises control during construction so that the cost is not exceeded without
authority.
architect or engineer to ensure that the financial provisions of the contract
are properly interpreted and applied so that the client’s financial interest is
safeguarded and that the builder is paid the proper price for the work. He also
exercises control during construction so that the cost is not exceeded without
authority.
7. Valuation of construction work The quantity surveyor prepares
interim valuations, values variations and prepares financial statements during
construction. He will also settle the final accounts at project completion. He
may also prepare statements of expenditure for tax or accounting purposes and
assess the project’s replacement value for insurance purposes. Other services
of the quantity surveyor include:
interim valuations, values variations and prepares financial statements during
construction. He will also settle the final accounts at project completion. He
may also prepare statements of expenditure for tax or accounting purposes and
assess the project’s replacement value for insurance purposes. Other services
of the quantity surveyor include:
8. Construction management Construction management uses latest
management techniques and other applications of programming, network analysis,
risk analysis, cash flow forecasting, budgeting and other control mechanisms.
management techniques and other applications of programming, network analysis,
risk analysis, cash flow forecasting, budgeting and other control mechanisms.
9. Building maintenance management Building maintenance management
involves planning, programming, controlling and costing of maintenance and
repair work.
involves planning, programming, controlling and costing of maintenance and
repair work.
10. Dilapidations The quantity surveyor prepares schedule of
conditions at the beginning of a tenancy or lease and a schedule of
dilapidations at the end giving details of an outgoing tenant’s liability.
conditions at the beginning of a tenancy or lease and a schedule of
dilapidations at the end giving details of an outgoing tenant’s liability.
11. Arbitration This is a formal process for settling disputes
12. Facilities management This involves all aspects of providing,
operating, maintaining, developing and improving facilities which are property
where people are accommodated and work.
operating, maintaining, developing and improving facilities which are property
where people are accommodated and work.
13. Contractor Organisations The quantity surveyor may work in a
contractor’s organisation.
contractor’s organisation.
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