Keep your costs under control – hire a quantity surveyor for your construction project

Any construction project has the potential to spiral in cost if someone isn’t keeping an eye on the finances. So to keep your project on budget and avoid any nasty financial surprises, read our guide to why you should hire a quantity surveyor.

What is a quantity surveyor?

A quantity surveyor will establish
how much your project will cost
© ServiceMagic

“In the simplest sense, a quantity surveyor deals with the financial management of a project,” explains William Blake, of William Blake Associates Ltd in East Sussex. “It is our job to look at an architects' plans and drawings for a proposed scheme and calculate how much that will cost to build and whether it is within the clients budget.” This initial calculation is the ‘Cost Plan’.

Throughout a construction project, a quantity surveyor will liaise with architects and the client to revise the cost plan as the design changes and becomes more detailed. Quantity surveyors are also concerned with managing the ‘form of contracts’ and deal in a number of different areas, for example: valuations, final accounts, dispute resolution, or planning and development.

“Quantity surveying is a very misunderstood profession,” points out Hugh Whatley, of Hugh Whatley and Company in Bristol. “Basically a surveyor will manage the financial side and the contracts side of a project. The three main concerns are time, cost and quality.”

Surveyors will work on all kinds of projects, both residential and commercial; types of project might range from building schools, hospitals and public buildings to working on sports stadiums, offices, roads or homes.

What does being a quantity surveyor entail?

To become a quantity surveyor you need to complete a degree or postgraduate qualification and two years of on the job training, called an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Once qualified, a surveyor’s job includes:

• Helping the client establish a budget for the project.
• Liaising with the client and architect to produce initial cost estimates.
• Revising the costings as the plans are developed.
• Producing a bill of quantities to be given out to contractors.
• Preparing contractual documents.
• Designating work to contractors if the client wishes.
• Monitoring costs once the project has begun.
• Checking invoices and overseeing payments, usually on a monthly basis.
• Scheduling materials.
• Resolving disputes.
• Measuring and valuing the finished project to produce an end report.

Quantity surveyors will monitor the
project all the way through
and advise of any changes in cost
C: Martin Pettitt on Flickr

How do quantity surveyors work?

“At the beginning of a project we are kind of like fortune tellers, trying to work out how much everything is going to cost with rough drawings or plans,” explains Hugh. As these drawings and building plans are refined, the costing of materials and labour is changed to reflect this. “We then produce a bill of quantities which lists all the items required which can be sent out to contractors for tendering,” says William.

A quantity surveyor will then closely monitor the project once it’s underway, reviewing cost and advising the client of any changes throughout. At the end of a project, surveyors produce a final report of costings.

Why do you need a quantity surveyor?

Hiring a quantity surveyor is essential to keep a project on budget. They will have proven skills in finance, maths, business and communication. William emphasises that: “A quantity surveyor needs to be logical, methodical and able to relate to people and negotiate. They must also have a good knowledge of the construction industry.”

Some people choose to rely on their builder to manage the cost of the project instead of hiring a quantity surveyor, which can be a mistake, warns William: “If a problem arises and costs spiral but the builder does not communicate this, then a dispute can develop.”

Disputes are common and many surveyors specialise in resolving them. Hugh points out that: “Not hiring a surveyor for a simple job might work, but for a £5 million project, you are going to need a surveyor. Surveyors really know about costings and the construction industry.”

How to choose a quantity surveyor

It is important to hire a properly qualified surveyor. In the UK, most tend to be registered with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Only members of RICS can call themselves chartered surveyors, there are currently over 100,000 members in the UK.

“I would recommend hiring a RICS registered surveyor because they make sure that people have the right training. Chartered surveyors have recognised qualifications and adhere to set codes of conduct and legal requirements, such as having Professional Indemnity insurance,” says Hugh.

How much does hiring a quantity surveyor cost?

There is no set way of establishing a fee for a quantity surveyor, the price will vary depending on the nature of the project and how long it will take. “You might cost the project as a percentage sum, a lump sum or at an hourly rate,” explains Hugh. You should consult several quantity surveyors to compare quotes.