ROLE OF QUANTITY SURVEYOR DURING BRIEFING
The commitment of the Quantity surveyor’s team in advising the cost as the design progress enabled the clients to appreciate the cost implications and manage their briefing process in a realistic manner by balancing with the constraint and objective of the project.
RICS (1992b) noted that Quantity Surveyor could setting a realistic cost budget, advise on cost implications of design and standards of construction and/or of alternative solutions and advise on the method of contractor procurement best suited to the project.
The Quantity Surveyors (QS) roles are primarily in connection with providing cost advice to the client throughout all stages of the project include: • Assisting in establishing a client's requirements and undertaking feasibility studies. • Preparing early stage budgets and detailed cost plans. • Performing risk and value management and cost control. • Advising on procurement strategy. Furthermore, Furthermore, Quantity surveyor surveyor is essentially essentially a cost expert to ensure the project project is kept within the agreed budget and the employer obtains value for money. The Quantity Surveyor can keep the total ’ ’
expenditure within the employer s budget and remains compatible with the cost plan by frequently estimate of cost.
Feasibility Stage
Quantity Quantity surveyor’s surveyor’s use their knowledge knowledge of construction construction methods and costs to advise the client on the most economical way of achieving his requirements. Quantity surveyor’s may use techniques such as cost planning, estimating, cost analysis, cost-in-use studies and value management to establish a project budget.
Pre-Design Stage
At this stage, client will develops the concept, undertake a feasibility study and prepare an outline cost plan. An outline brief is then prepared after studying various options for the project. The brief is then developed which includes the client’s requirements such as cost limits, time limits and functionality of the project. (Egbu, 2009)The knowledge and skills of the quantity surveyors that can be useful at this stage are:
Project Evaluation Evaluation : This competency is comprised development appraisal, investment
appraisal, cost benefit analysis and financial aspects of feasibility study. The Quantity surveyor’s surveyor’s have comprehensive comprehensive knowledge knowledge of the various elements elements of the feasibility study and development appraisal and the factors that can affect them. Their understanding of techniques used to assess financial viability, enable them to advise the clients on the economics of design, on the use of value management and on how to consider risks associated with the project.
Design economics and cost planning : Quantity surveyors give advice to the clients on
diversity of market factors and trends in construction cost. They also have knowledge about the affect design economics over the whole life cycle of projects and they can assist in the financial control of projects projects from feasibility feasibility study to design completion completion by evaluating evaluating the efficiency of the design. They prepare preliminary estimate and cost plans at this stage and analyze the accuracy of predicted cost.
Procurement Procurement advice: Quantit Quantity y surveyo surveyor’s r’s act as advisor advisor on select selection ion of procure procurement ment
methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each to the parties involved. Therefore, they have a clear knowledge of the main types of procurement used in the public sector and also ancillary processes such as partnering and framework agreements. They can evaluate the appropriateness of of various various procurement outs and implementing them (RICS, 2008).
Design Stage
During During this this stage, stage, design design team team develop develop the brief brief into into drawings drawings and specif specificat ications ions.. Client Client is informed of possible cost changes and they can change items of the design to reduce costs or accept the increased figure (Egbu:2009). The following competencies are used during this stage by Quantity Surveyor’s are:
Construction technology and environmental service
As Quantity surveyor’s they have knowledge about the different stage of design from inception to completion is one that can be used during the design stage. They also advise on the impact of different design solutions on cost and programme. They appreciate how design solutions vary for different types of buildings. They can give effective advice on the choice of design solution for projects to the client.
Contract management
Quantity surveyor’s have knowledge of the contractual provisions relating to the various standard forms of contracts. They can advise on the most appropriate contractual procedure at the various stages of a contract and then evaluate the appropriateness and implication of proposed contractual amendments. They assess entitlement for extension of time, loss and expenses, finally giving advice to clients of their contractual rights and obligations. ( RICS, 2008)
Value management management
Client are now looking for achieving improved value for money. Values of a project vary from perspective of each parties involved in the project. In the public sector projects, valu values es are are not not only only the cost cost and and comm commeercia rciall aspe aspect ctss. Other ther fact factor orss such such as aesthetic aspects, sustainability issues, extendibility and easy-remodelling capability should be taken into account and by considering considering of the fact that value is related related to cost. Quantity Quantity surveyor’s therefore are involved in the value management. They have potential to act as the Value engineering coordinator.
