What Does a Quantity Surveyor Actually Do?

A quantity surveyor is, at heart, a specialist in the economics of construction. We are the professionals who answer the question that every property developer, building owner and project manager eventually asks: What is this going to cost?

But that single question opens onto a much broader discipline - one that touches every phase of a project, from the earliest sketch on a napkin to the final line of the final account.

The Foundation: Cost Planning

The most valuable work a quantity surveyor does often happens long before a spade goes into the ground. Early cost planning - preparing financial viability studies, cash flow projections and order-of-magnitude estimates at concept stage - gives clients the information they need to make sound investment decisions.

At this stage, a good QS draws not just on software and databases, but on accumulated experience. Having seen dozens of similar projects, we know where the cost risks lie, what the market is currently paying for different elements, and which design decisions are likely to blow a budget.

Bills of Quantities: The Engine Room

The bills of quantities (BOQ) is the document that most people associate with quantity surveying, and for good reason. A comprehensive, accurately measured BOQ:

• Enables competitive, like-for-like tendering
• Reduces ambiguity and therefore reduces risk for all parties
• Provides a clear basis for valuing variations and change orders
• Enables accurate cost reporting throughout construction

At JS and Associates, we prepare our BOQs using WinQS and DimX - specialist cost management software that allows us to produce detailed, structured documents efficiently and accurately. We are fully conversant with BIM coordination on projects, which increasingly allows us to extract quantities directly from three-dimensional models.

Contract Administration

Selecting the right form of contract and preparing the full contract documentation package is a critical risk management exercise. We advise clients on the most appropriate contract strategy - whether JBCC, NEC, GCC or a bespoke arrangement - and prepare the documentation accordingly.

Once construction begins, we attend site regularly, assess progress, and certify payments. Our monthly cost reports give clients a clear, current picture of budget performance, highlighting variances before they become problems.

The Final Account

A project is only complete when the final account is agreed and settled. This is often a complex process - variations, claims, adjustments and provisional sum settlements all need to be reconciled. A skilled quantity surveyor manages this process efficiently, protecting the client's interests while achieving a fair and timely resolution.

Why It Matters

Construction projects are almost always among the largest financial commitments an individual or business will make. Getting the economics right - from the first estimate to the last payment - is not a luxury. It is what protects the investment.

That is why we have been doing this since 1996, and why the clients who work with us once tend to come back.

If you would like to understand how quantity surveying services could benefit your next project, contact us today.