Construction projects consist of a great wealth of complex information and parts. Accordingly, planning for an accurate budget can be difficult but is all the more critical.
Miscalculations in the project cost can lead to losses on your or your clients’ side, damaging your business or reputation. What’s more, false budget expectations can steer a project in the wrong direction.
A Quantity Surveyor specialises in planning and minimising costs from the start but can also come into a project when it is well underway.
So if you find yourself stretched for cash and need a project back on track, a professional quantity surveyor may be able to help. Additionally, they’ll be able to help your project meet quality codes and regulations.
This begs the question: how to find a quantity surveyor? Fortunately, that’s what we’re shedding some light on today.
Let’s dive in!
What Does A Quantity Surveyor Do?
Quantity Surveyors (QS), also sometimes called cost managers, are integral advisors on your building project. Their role is to streamline your workflow and minimise construction costs by ensuring efficiency in all aspects of the project.
Quantity surveyors frequently possess skills in:
- Construction
- Social engineering
- Civil engineering
- Urban and land studies
- Economics
- Maths and accounting
- Legal skills pertaining to contracts
Before a project, a quantity surveyor will compare your project with similar work to ensure an accurate and precise plan and budget.
In addition, they will keep the project leader updated on cash flow data and ensure the finances are always reported accurately during the project.
Finally, at the end of a project, a quantity surveyor calculates the project’s overall costs and provides an account, comparing the initial budget to the final costs.
In short, a Quantity Surveyor can be compared to an accountant with specific expertise in the construction sector.
Why You Should Hire a Quantity Surveyor for Your Building Project
If you’re unsure whether you need a quantity surveyor for your project, here are a few considerations worth noting:
Don’t Try to Do It Yourself
As Quantity Surveyors rely on accounting skills, which many can approximate with basic maths, many construction companies think they handle the job themselves. However, much expertise goes into properly costing a project, securing the contracts and ordering the supplies. A qualified quantity surveyor is going to be more efficient at these tasks. On top of that, attempting to budget and manage the project yourself costs you time, which might ultimately cost you more money.
Keep Yourself Out of Conflicts
Any complex and long construction project can come with misunderstandings, issues with the cash flow, disagreements over contract interpretations, or even clashes in personality. Conflict can cost you dearly, as it may delay work. It is also simply not pleasant to deal with. A Quantity Surveyor is tasked with preventing conflict by making contracts unambiguous from the start. They also seek conflict resolutions for you so that no disagreement can escalate.
Save Money by Getting the Balance Right
As many as 69% of construction projects exceed their budget. Yours doesn’t have to. A quantity surveyor ensures everything is done right the first time around. This means sticking to deadlines, ordering the right amount of supplies, and budgeting for contingencies from the start. This makes sure that you don’t end up over budget by the end of the project, ensuring happy customers and a happy team. Quantity Surveyors can also minimise project costs by finding the best contractors, order discounts, and efficient workflows.
Work with Better Firms and Contractors
Quantity Surveyors are qualified to navigate firms and contractors for you. They draw up the contracts, ensure both sides are happy, and monitor that all work is completed to specification. This saves you a lot of time during the vetting process. Your Quantity Surveyor can simply provide you with the information you need and assist your hiring decision. They will also protect you from malpractices by other firms, ascertaining that work is done on time and to specifications.
Achieve Higher Profit Margins for Your Business
Finally, a Quantity Surveyor can help streamline your workflows and find out how to better approach new projects. They can assist you in negotiating better contracts for yourself and achieving higher profit margins by keeping costs low and saving time along the way. If you want to develop your construction firm, the advice of a Quantity Surveyor is invaluable.
How to Find a Quantity Surveyor
It’s a big step to invest in such a service provider, so it’s important that you know what you’re looking for in your potential cost consultant.
Ask yourself what you’re hoping to get out of hiring a Quantity Surveyor. For example, are you looking for assistance with a specific project? Or do you need to advise on how to better cost your future work?
Perhaps you’re looking to attract better contracts and reach your target profit? Once you have a good idea of how you’re hoping a Quantity Surveyor may fit into your project, it’s time to start looking for the right hire.
Unfortunately, finding skilled talent can be difficult. That’s why your best bet is to turn to Construction and Legal Experts with an established team of Quantity Surveyors.
Are You Ready to Hire a Quantity Surveyor?
We hope that having read this article you now have a better idea of how to find a quantity surveyor and what quantity surveyors actually do.
The HMS Group thrives on collaborative relationships with its clients. We provide tailored quantity surveyor services so you can maximise profits on your property, commercial and infrastructure projects.
We assist you with: account and cost management, strategic planning, budgetary reporting, contract management, claim and dispute resolution…and more!
Get in touch with us today to discuss your next project and how our Quantity Surveyors might help you.
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