The Core Responsibilities of Construction Quantity Surveyors

Posted by Julie Scott on March 28th, 2023

Construction Quantity surveyors play a significant role in the management of construction projects. Also popularly called Construction Cost Consultant or Commercial Manager, the primary role of quantity surveyors is to keep a close eye on project finances and contractual relationships. They ensure that the financial position of the construction project is accurately reported and effectively controlled.

Construction activities covered by QS:

•          Cost estimation and negotiation
•          Claims management
•          Expense management
•          Budget management
•          Change control
•          Tendering
•          Value management
•          Project coordination

Cost advice during construction is the most offered service while advice on the impact of building engineering services is seldom offered. The analytical method and detailed costing techniques are predominately applied for estimating building engineering services.

The core responsibilities of a Quantity Surveyor:

With the advent of advanced construction technology, the role of a professional QS expert has undergone a few changes along with the scope of various construction technologies. As per the traditional approach is concerned, quantity surveying is about contracts and control of construction costs through accurate measurement. The potential outcome of project design decisions at an early stage is important to obtain value for the resources to be expended. This means the input of the QS is as important as the contribution of other experts in the commercial construction industry.

Right from the initial cost estimates to the final acquisition of materials, a QS is responsible for the cost of a building project at all the stages of construction – pre-construction, construction and post-construction stage.

They keep projects on time:

Many surprising situations like weather delays, material shortages, labor shortages, unforeseen delays or disputes between two parties such as contractors and sub-contractors could occur during a project. In such situations, the mediation and negotiation skills of QS resolve the issue fairly and reasonably.

Also, as far as the dispute between project team members is concerned, a QS uses his/her work experience and skills to play the role of a mediator to ensure there are no delays in the project.

Preparation of cost estimates:

When the project manager prepares the budget, the QS helps in defining the optimal quantity and price of the materials to be used in construction. The QS work with the clients, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants in identifying the scope of the project and helping the project manager. The QS finalize the optimum prices for each element of the project by coordinating with different parties involved in the construction project.

Budget management:

The budget is calculated before the start of a project based on the design prepared. The primary role of a QS is to ensure that the project's cost remains within the stipulated budget. The surveyor uses tools to prepare reports tracking the project costs. He then compares these reports with the original budgets to track financial progress. The QS work closely with all the parties to acquire optimal value products with the best quality.

Project co-ordination:

The QS work with stakeholders such as engineers, workers, and contractors to drive efficiency in areas of expenses. These include labor costs, construction costs and construction methods. The QS coordinates with different parties to remove all the roadblocks in a project and make timely payments to the stakeholders. To keep the project on track, QS coordinates and keeps track of all payments.

An efficient construction quantity Surveyor has a strong eye for detail and makes regular visits to the construction site. They keep a track of the actual progress of the project and make face-to-face interactions with the construction team. He gauges the performances of the team and analyzes the team requirements ahead of time.