Roles of Both the Contractors and Clients Quantity Surveyor in the Construction Industry - Essay Example

Roles of both the contractors and surveyor in the construction industry Executive summary Quantity surveyors are mainly entitled to control and lay down cost benefit strategies required in the execution of a construction project. By engaging a quantity surveyor in a project, stakeholders of the project are exposed to preliminary overview concerning the lifecycle of that project, required materials to use and the risks attached to the project before coming up with a budget necessary from initiation to the completion. This research paper is, therefore, meant to identify the main roles of quantity surveyors in the construction business, which varies from construction waste management, submission of periodic reports to the client, and advise the stakeholders on issues of cost reduction among other things. While coming up with the right procedure that will ensure all than important roles of a quantity surveyor are recorded, a comparison between the clients’ quantity surveyor and contractors’ quantity surveyor has to be reported to allow for easier clarification areas of the construction project. Introduction In the construction industry, the quantity surveyors are recognized as vital personnel who carry out evaluation before a project execution is initiated. As per the norms of all organizations, both the client and the contractor must institutionalize their own independent surveyor whose mandate is to take evaluations concerning costs of setting up a project from the time the project starts to the time it is completed. The main role of the surveyor is to synchronize the least possible cost required to set a construction project while achieving the optimum value and quality. For a quantity surveyor to come up with an approximate value needed to complete any construction project, he must understand building requirements and regulations in the construction industry. Some of the clients do allow the quantity surveyor to work within their premise while some are only be interested in estimates of the project. Roles of a client’s quantity surveyor The usual roles of a client’s surveyor include doing job around his office, by construction premises where the actual work are being carried and at consultant rooms where clients briefing and other clerical duties are handled. Roles may vary depending on the environment, location and clients, the duties are, however, similar because everything involved is in the same industry. The most common duties includes the following Signing in of new contracts The role of quantity surveyors has since changed drastically to accommodate additional duties such as signing of new contracts on behalf of the clients. This is because clients do not have a formal set structure of administration related to contractors whose duties can be easily separated through departments. Therefore, a personal surveyor who acts as a representative of the customer is entitled the responsibility of signing contractual documents (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Cost analysis evaluation As discussed previously, client’s quantity surveyor represents the client in all business and active areas of the projects before the project begins and towards its completion. He does not only manage the project pricing, but he is also entitled to the production of tender documents besides coming up with a bill of quantity. Involved in the design and development of a construction project, the surveyor provides an integrated cost management review as a solution in relation to the customers’ needs. Moreover, he consistently re-evaluate the cost of construction in accordance to the available resources, and this saves the customer the amount of money that could have been spent as compared when to services are outsourced (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Site visits and assessment Client’s quantity surveyors are known to visit the construction site more regularly and do an assessment to determine the extent of the construction project. Moreover, they assess the quality of the project and inform the contractor on areas that may require adjustments before the project is brought to completion (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Identifies upcoming contractors It is the responsibility of the clients’ quantity surveyor to allocate future contractors. However, the allocation process is more valid because it helps the project not to stall due to lack of workforce. Besides, contractors manage some projects for a limited time. Therefore, the allocation of a new contract is, therefore, essential to allow smooth transition of tasks (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Feasibility study Before the start of any construction project, it is important for clients to be exposed to the actual cost as this forms part of the certification by the approval agency and consultants during the approval for funding. The certification process cannot be made possible unless a surveyor comes in and provides a propounded estimate of setting up the project. Coming up with an actual amount for certification is influenced by physical environmental factors such as site accessibility, parking space for the workers, and possible environmental pollution amongst other things (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Financial consultant A quantity surveyor forms part of the project business bargains from the point it starts to the point it is fully completed. While the project is being undertaken, a surveyor is expected to account for any little expense used by the contractors while creating reports necessary to determine if an organization has made any profit within that project execution time. Moreover, he is in charge of the hiring of contractors on behalf of the customer while ensuring that the cost of bidding coincide exactly to the budget frame. In addition, the amount surveyors deal with an application of payments and address them to the clients for payments where necessary. The clients’ surveyor is capable of handling matter of business sensitivity while doing appropriate investigations expert advice (Hogg and Higgs 2013). Roles of a contractors’ quantity surveyor As long as the work of the quantity surveyors may be similar in most occasions, their specific duties vary slightly depending on the project and the actual activity. Typical amount survey entails preparation of the construction tender documents including the bill of quantities filled by almost all the participants who are involved as part of the project. By making appropriate distinction of the two major types of the surveyors, the roles played by contractors’ quantity surveyor are classified as follows: Waste management Waste management is the most important practice that has to be given priority in every construction project in order to avoid problems with the federal environmental waste management authority. Besides, poor waste management strategy is harmful to the environment. For a good environmental sustainable practice within the construction site, it is the responsibility of the surveyor to ensure that all the waste that come out of the projects are either recycled or convert them into a state considered less harmful to the environment (Ross and Williams 2012). Organizational Procurement Being in charge of foreseeing the financial cost of projects on behalf of the contractor, the quantity surveyor has the mandated of the contractor to submit reports of all the items that are required by the company to the procurement officer who in turn carries out the actual procurement of the items required. In addition, the surveyor makes plan and give estimates concerning tenders. He provides recommendations concerning the procurement report before actual submissions and claim for any due settlement that has not been paid to the company (Ross and Williams 2012). Cost construction process Similar to what the quantity surveyor of the client does, the contractors quantity surveyor is entitled to handling contracts on behalf of the company, handles costs approximations and financial activities to the understanding of profit to the company. Due to their expert knowledge, contractors’ quantity surveyors handle costing of every piece of work and the materials needed for the construction project while ensuring that the best value is attained at a minimum cost possible (Ross and Williams 2012). Handles tendering process The quantity surveyor participates in the organizational tender. In his capacity, he is entitled to provide accurate and detailed tendering documents on behalf of the business in which the image of the contractor is reflected. He also provides detailed information showing why the organization qualifies to be given the tender (Ross and Williams 2012). Preparation of bills of Quantities Quantity surveyors play vital roles to the organization because they are characterized by well-placed construction service and this adds up to the realization of the constructing industry. His profession constitutes designing of the bill of quantities on behalf of the overall company. The surveyor uses his own technique in accordance to the sketches and drawings composed by both the structural and design architect to develop a standard bill of quantity (Ross and Williams 2012). Organize the materials of construction projects The benchmark for profit generation is through minimal cost utility in a construction project, and then the best materials have to be purchased before the commencement of the project. One of the roles played by the quantity surveyor on behalf of the contractor is the knowledge of cost expert analysis to organize the required building materials at a fordable price (Ross and Williams 2012). Conclusion From this report, it has been discussed how both the clients’ and contractors’ quantity surveyor are important in all aspects of a construction project. Much money is saved when enough time is given to the surveyor who takes part in cost management analysis. Quantity surveyors are responsible construction personnel whose responsibilities are inclined to save their employers huge amount of money. In conclusion, quantity surveyors should have mutual coordination with all experts involved in the construction project to come, as this would ensure project performances. Bibliography: Hogg, K and Higgs, C. 2013. Williss practice and procedure for the quantity surveyor. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Ross, A and Williams, P.2012. Financial management in construction contracting. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell. Read More