A Quantity Surveyor ( QS) is a professional working within the construction industry concerned with construction costs and contracts, services provided by a Quantity Surveyor may include:

• Cost planning and commercial management during the entire life cycle of the project from inception to completion
• Value engineering
• Risk Management and calculation
• Procurement advice and assistance during the tendering procedures
• Commercial Management and Contract Administration
• Assistance in dispute resolution
• Asset Capitalisation
• Interim payment assessment
• Cost Management process
• Claim the extra cost of the design variation

Traditional quantity surveying services:

• Cost Planning
• Estimating
• Contracts negotiation
• Procurement advice
• Preparing Bill of Quantities (BOQ)
• Monitoring Budget
• Preparation of Payment Invoice and Certification.
• Assessment of variations
• Dispute resolution
• Preparing feasibility studies
• Cost Control
• Value Engineering

Future services expected:

• Investment appraisal
• Advice on cost limits and budgets
• Whole life cycle costing
• Value management
• Risk analysis
• Insolvency services.
• Subcontract administration
• Environmental services measurement and costing.
• Technical auditing
• Planning and supervision
• Valuation for insurance purposes
• Project management
• Administering maintenance programmes
• Advice on contractual disputes.

Professional Duties

Pre-Contract:

• Provide procurement and contractual advice
• Provide 'Order of Magnitude' costs for construction projects
• Refine, monitor and control costs during design development
• Prepare contract documentation
• Prepare pre-tender estimates

Tender Review:

• Identify cost-risks in tender returns
• Prepare tender reports
• Recommend preferred tenderer

Professional Bodies for further reference.

RICS

RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is an international professional body with over 100,000 members. They represent everything professional and ethical in land, property and construction.

Their members are known as chartered surveyors and are recognised by the designation after their name: MRICS (Member of RICS), FRICS (Fellow of RICS) and AssocRics (Associate of RICS).

They regulate and promote the profession; maintain the highest educational and professional standards; protect clients and consumers via a strict code of ethics; and provide impartial advice, analysis and guidance.

QSI

The QSi is the only professional body which solely caters for Quantity Surveyors

The QSi is the professional body for those specialising in the financial aspects of construction and engineering.

They are a non-profit making organisation and a truly international organisation with members spanning the globe.

Their objective is to support and protect the character, status and interest of the profession of Quantity Surveying.

If you require further information to guide you in your career choice within property call us on +44 20 3757 5000 or visit our website www.capstone-recruitment.com.