What is the role of a quantity surveyor?

What’s the role of the quantity surveyor in construction?

What is the role of a quantity surveyor ….is always a good question as it seems to be asked all the time and everywhere you go the description seems to be different?

From talking to people to reading or watching videos on YouTube this blog should give you a good insight into the roles of a quantity surveyor in construction.

There are truly several different roles that a quantity surveyor can play depending on where they want to be in their career. Quantity surveyors (QS) can change career direction if they would like to try another role in the quantity surveyor easily.

Role of the quantity surveyor

Let’s that a look at the different roles based on who your employer is:

1. Role of the client-side or end user’s quantity surveyor

This can also be known as well as a consultant quantity surveyor or a professional quantity surveyor but, in this role, the QS would be working for the end-user or the client.

For example, they would be working for the homeowner or the builder owner or maybe the government. Basically, the person or company who is going to be using the end project that is being built.

During this role the quantity surveyor would usually have some of the following tasks:

• Conducting a feasibility proposal – this means that their role would be to make sure a project is financially viable to pursue. This may be done by finding out land costs, potential sale costs once completed, building costs and maybe building permits as well.

The role during this part of the project would also involve engaging designers to draw concept designs to show what potentially can be built. The drawings can be used to prepare a budget price on the job to again check its likelihood of success in the future.

• Value engineering – is required throughout a project to test the value that a client will receive at the end of a project against the cost. Value engineering is a role that the QS will play in finding alternative products that match the quality required by the client which are more cost-effective.

As an example, a new type of glass window may be available on the market which the designers are not aware of that matches the project requirements and is cheaper overall.

The role there would be to inform the client and designers of the potential to value engineer the windows to save on cost but not compromise on quality.

• Cost-benefit analysis – looks at the cost versus the benefits of certain things in a project. The role of the QS would be to accurately work out the difference between two options to work out which one is the best. It is a systematic approach to working out the advantages and disadvantages of an option.

• Life cycle costing – looks at all the costs of a project from the land acquisition, the building, the maintenance and everything else right through until the demolition of the project.

The life cycle costing is an important role of the quantity surveyor in construction as it looks at all the materials and building methods to make sure they can stand the test of time.

As an example, if the building life expectancy is 50 years then the structure must be designed, built and maintained to last that long. Products or materials that can not last that long will have to either removed or replaced during the life cycle of the building which has a cost attached to it.

It is important for the client to know how much the building will cost to maintain until it is demolished.

• Project commercial management – if a project is live then the clients QS would be required to manage the contracts for the work. This contract generally would be between the client and the builder.

Terms of the contract such as payment items, variation clauses, and insurance clauses would all need to be actioned during the project and it would the quantity surveyor’s role to make sure these items are actioned correctly.

A client’s quantity surveyor would usually spend most of their time in an office sitting at a desk. Occasional site visits would be required for progress claims and variations to be settled between the parties.

The role would usually entail wearing a suit and tie to work and working with other professionals during the day.

2. Role of the contractors or builder’s quantity surveyor

The contractors or builder’s quantity surveyor would be required to help them in several areas. The main people they would deal with are the client and the subcontractors and suppliers to the project.

• Tendering – builders are required to provide quotes for projects. If their quote is successful, then they win the project and can start working.
• Quantity take-offs – the client’s team will provide the builder with design drawings and specifications which the QS will be required to do a quantity takeoff. This would then produce a list of items and activities needed to complete the works.
• Estimating – the bill of quantities would be passed onto the estimator who would use it to gain market pricing for all the components to complete the project.
• Contracts administration – if the builder is successful in winning the project then the quantity surveyors’ role may change to that of a contract’s administrator.
• Final accounts – once the construction has come to complete the final account will be produced, discussed and settled.
• Project management – during the construction the quantity surveyor’s role may be to project manage the construction.

Being a contractors’ quantity surveyor, you expect to spend half of the time in an office and the other half on-site or visiting sites. Generally, you would wear smart casual clothing and site work clothing when required.

This can be a very busy type of role during the day with having many different parties to deal with. Meeting deadlines for work is essential for the smooth running of the business. Liaising with the client and the subcontractors and supplier can also be an expected role for the quantity surveyor.

3. Role of the subcontractors’ quantity surveyor

The subcontractor’s quantity surveyors’ roles would be very similar to that of a builder’s quantity surveyor. The only difference is that the QS would generally not deal with the client. They would be tasked with many of the above-mentioned activities.

Working with a subcontractor may involve more frequent trips to the site during the week. Subcontractors generally have more than one project they are working on at any time.

As the subcontractor generally special in one type of trade then your quantity surveyor will be the focus around that trade.

As an example, if you are working for an electrical subcontractor then you would only be dealing with electrical projects. This is ok if you want to specialise in that trade however it can limit your career progression if you wanted to try another trade.

4. Role of the dispute resolutions or claims quantity surveyor

A dispute or claims quantity surveyors’ roles would be to assist when the terms of the contract or the conduct of a party are unclear. Disputes can arise from many different things in the contract.

The quantity surveyors’ roles here is to provide advice on the dispute, find the root cause of the problems and resolve the dispute between the clients.

Quantity surveyors in this type of role will generally have a good number of years’ experience in the industry. Their experience will be required to diligently and fairly resolve the disputes that arise.

Thank you for reading our blog on the roles of a quantity surveyor in construction. We hope it has given you a good insight into which roles you would like to play within the industry.

Please feel free to share this on your favorite social media platform or leave a comment below which we will answer.

We have written various other blogs on quantity surveying so why not spend some time reading those if this one was of interest to you.