In other titles as a consultant quantity surveyor or a professional quantity surveyor, a QS played role but in this period he /she works for end-user or the client where at the very first calculate a budget based on his clients’ requirement such as preparing detailed estimates to ensure the budget is sufficient for each stage of construction as well as finding out what construction project will cost including materials, labor and services.
For better understanding here is an example, a Quantity Surveyor would be working for the homeowner or may be the government as the person or company that is going to be used in the end project that is build.During this role the QS would have the following tasks:
Conducting a feasibility proposal –
Among the most important role this comes very first in which a Quantity Surveyor helps with studies feasibility for the project along with estimating hat is involved in the project based on measurements of the designers or client sketches.
While he studies the architect and engineers plans he will identify the cost involved and sets an overall estimated budget for the project to compare the project with others which are similar.
To make sure a project is financially viable to pursue and this may be done by finding out land costs, potential sale costs once completed building cost and permits as well to go next level of the project.
Value engineering –
Coming to decision-making stage a Quantity Surveyor can plan costs to help the design team to stay within the project budget using practical solutions which is called value engineering to play this role he involves engaging designers to draw concept design to show that potentially can be build in the long run.
On this case the final detailed estimate is prepared by a Quantity Surveyor to the company or client during the project.And this simple alternatives can be used to prepare a budget price on the job to again check its likelihood of success in the future.
As an example, a new type of glass window may be available on the market which the designer are not aware of that matches the project requirements and is cheaper overall to make a great difference for the entire project. You will get that clear idea of the QS role as informing the client and designer of the potential value engineer the window to save on cost without any compromise of the quality.
So, value engineering required throughout a project reviewing to test the value that a client will receive at the end of a project against predetermined budget and expenditure. In this role finding more cost-effective alternative products which match with required.
Cost benefit analysis –
From the term’s meaning it the cost versus the benefits of certain things in the running project while the role of a quantity surveyor is benchmarking requirements against similar product assessing and comparing options to help to define the project budget with most available standard quality choices, checking developing designs against budget and finally assessing value for the money .
But the most efficient role would be accurate in work to find out the difference between two options and select one as best to use in work. Practically, it is a systematic approach to go through the right way to reach of the advantages.
Life cycle costing –
There are several things whined to thing to keep the project on track and prefect the uncertain risks. In this stage life cycle costing which includes all the costs of a project such as land acquisition, the building, maintenance and everything else to make the project delay or any loses at the period of working.
Finding out that all the materials and building methods are standing the test of time is the important role of the QS in construction meant in the life cycle costing and to this successfully a Quantity Surveyor should have years of experience in this field.
To explain rightly here is the example. If the building life expectancy is 50 years while the structure must be designed or build and maintained to last long. Yet, products or material that could not last that long if either removed or replace during the life cycle of the building which a cost attached to it in details.
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.
Without knowing that how much the building will cost to maintain until it is demolished during construction the financial side or predetermined budget won’t be accurate.So it is very important for any client and a Quantity Surveyor can help to give report from his analyzed.
Project commercial management –
The job of a Quantity Surveyor in a construction project starts with liaising with clients and other contract parties. Except communication client won’t share his requirements and the QS won’t give advice begging or during the construction, the project could not be evident.
When a project is running a quantity surveyor need to manage the other contract for the work and this contact generally would be between the client and builder.
Keep the action of project uninterrupted temps of the contact such as payment items, variation clauses as well as insurance clauses would need to be coordination, and it is a Quantity Surveyor who make sure that all goes correctly to be always ready to face any commercial risks.
Because of their various role a client’s quantity surveyor might be seen in the office sitting at a desk, visiting the site for progress claims and variation to be settled between parties.
Conclusion:
Yet, a Quantity Surveyor are mostly found in office to do his daily work activities. Usually a QS wear a suit and tie to work with various hat up to those professional with whom he is working during the day. In different project they played various role as project stage required.
