Quantity Surveyors

Quantity surveyors are charged with cost control over building and civil engineering projects, from initial budgeting and forecasting to presenting the final figures when the structure is complete. They aim to ensure the project is completed to the required quality standard, including meeting the demands of statutory building regulations, while keeping costs down and delivering value for money. At the outset, quantity surveying may involve preparing a feasibility study for a client so they know what they can afford to build. The QS will organise the work to be carried out, recruiting the best value-for-money subcontractors to carry out more specialised roles. As work progresses, the QS will place valuations on what’s been done on-site to enable payment to be released to workers. They will also manage costs and keep the client fully updated on progress against budget. A quantity surveyor may work for a property or construction company; a civil engineering firm; a local authority; or a government department. They may specialise in one or more specific areas of the construction industry, such as property taxation, making funding applications or costing advice. Membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the standards body associated with the profession, is typical.