So, what is a Quantity Surveyor anyway?
Not to be confused with a land surveyor, which is a completely different professional...
“A quantity surveyor, or QS, is a highly skilled construction industry professional, that is both office and site based, and uses his/her knowledge of engineering, construction, contracts, and economics, to manage all costs associated with construction and engineering projects, with the primary goal to minimise expenses without compromising on quality”.
A QS is considered the economist of the construction industry and is sometimes referred to as a “construction cost consultant” or a “construction cost manager”, depending on where in the world you find yourself.
The role of a QS is to undertake comprehensive measurements from architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to compile cost estimates for projects. Project timeframes, client preferences and requirements, industry best practice standards, etc., are also taken into account when providing the client with guidance on price, contract choice, contractor(s) appointments and project execution. In order to provide the best relevant advice to the client, the QS must have a thorough understanding of construction costs, architectural and engineering designs, construction methods and materials as well as construction contracts and negotiations.
Quantity surveyors are beneficial to both large and small construction and engineering projects and the earlier in a project’s life the QS gets involved, the more benefit can be provided to the client. The QS acts in liaison with architects, consulting engineers and contractors to safeguard the client's interest. They are independent experts who operate in a specialised area of the construction industry.