Quantity surveying is a profession related to the construction industry. It comprises quantity surveying, claims & dispute resolution, and consultancy services. The client can maximize the full value of his/her financial investment based on the professional advice at each phase of the project.

Quantity surveying specialists and consultants work with main contractors and sub-contractors, supporting projects wherever required. They assist the construction managers to maintain a full project team whilst working to budget and deadlines.

Qualities of a Surveyor

The quantity surveyor needs to understand the daily demands, pressure and challenges faced by construction managers. He has to maintain regular contact with the client during a project. He should be able to tackle the most challenging and unusual commercial, educational, residential or civil projects. He should attach a high value to work ethics, loyalty and pro-active attitude. He should adhere to the standard methods and techniques as agreed to by the QS profession and representatives of the construction industry.

Services

Quantity surveying professionals offer support services for contractors, clients and developers that are broadly concerned with contracts and costs of construction projects. They provide pre-contract support, quantity surveyor site support, claims management and dispute resolution services to contractors and sub-contractors. In addition, they offer construction cost consultancy services to clients and insolvency support to insolvency practitioners.

The pre-contract support can be said to be a cost effective service in bill of quantities (BOQ) preparation, estimate, cost planning, budget and cash flow forecasts, quantity checks, tender audits, material scheduling and procurement and package compilation. The surveyor specializes in the technique of measuring quantities from construction drawings, sketches and specifications and helps to prepare tender or contract documents. The BOQ preparation and construction claims are done in accordance to a published standard method of measurement. The quantity surveyor site support enables a client to vary workload, accept new projects and overcome resource issues.

Claims Management and Dispute Resolution service helps to assess and resolve all kinds of project related disputes. The surveyor specializes in claims management, delay analysis, extension of time narratives, adjudication and arbitration, informal mediation and planning. His expertise in drafting and interpretation of contract documents helps to settle issues, avoid disputes and ensure the effective progress of a project.

Quantity surveying companies control construction costs with their Construction Cost Consultancy services. They provide feasibility estimates and advice on value engineering. Their accurate measurement of the work, knowledge of costs of required work, labor, materials, and awareness of the implications of design decisions at an early stage ensure good support for the client.

The Insolvency support helps Turnaround Managers and Insolvency Practitioners of companies in distress situations. An expert surveyor with technical knowledge of construction contracts, claims, forms of procurement, contract and payment valuations, tenders, novations and other issues will assess the funds at risk and maximize the overall recovery.

Quantity surveying is a highly specialized profession requiring a variety of technical skills to support construction projects and insolvency cases. Each and every case is a prototype and requires highly qualified and professional surveyors and consultants to ensure complete satisfaction of the client.