Quantity Surveyors are fairly popular and highly paid professionals in the construction industry of Australia. However, it is not so easy to become a good surveyor, for this, you need to acquire numerous skills and knowledge both in economics and in the construction field. In this article we will tell you in detail who are quantity surveyors, what they do, and why are they essential.
What is a quantity surveyor?
A quantity surveyor is a qualified specialist who knows the construction industry and finance equally well. They understand the theoretical and practical aspects of pricing, are able to organise and conduct a tender and evaluate the submitted documentation. The responsibilities assigned to these specialists can be classified as strategic since the final cost and quality of the facility being built depends on them.
Quantity surveyor position
A quantity surveyor is an irreplaceable link in the office work of any construction company. The work of the quantity surveyor, as noted above, is performed not only in the construction field. However, today it is a construction that is the main area in which one simply cannot do without a specialist of this profile.
What does a quantity surveyor do?
A quantity surveyor calculates all the costs that are necessary for the execution of construction and installation work, as well as possible risks. The result of his activities is the estimate documentation, which indicates the optimal and reasonable plan of expenses for each item of the work performed, based on the specifics of the capital construction object. The job responsibilities of a quantity surveyor depend on the nature and direction of the organisation, of which he is an employee. For example, the functions of a quantity surveyor in an expert bureau or a construction company can be very different. The exact list of tasks is spelled out in the job description, which is approved by the head of the enterprise or organisation. It also regulates his rights and the degree of responsibility, requirements for a candidate for a position, and a system of relationships with managers of different levels. The most typical and general duties of the employee responsible for budgeting can be:
-preparation, verification, coordination with other employees or organisations of estimate documents for construction and installation work;
-preparation of estimates for work by contractors;
-preparation of work contracts, the correctness of calculations, and control over their implementation;
-calculation of the cost of raw materials, components, materials, equipment;
-checking the correctness of the preparation of tender documents;
-drawing up acts confirming the performance of the works specified in the contracts.
When performing his duties, the specialist has the right to participate in the process of discussing issues and making decisions by the management regarding the specified area of activity, to involve, if necessary, employees of other departments, to receive, upon request, the necessary materials from other organisations and departments. The responsibility of the employee arises in case of non-compliance in the course of his activities with the legislation of the country, the Charter of the organisation, committing offences and misconduct, as well as causing damage to the organisation by his actions or inaction. In addition, he is responsible for improper performance or non-performance of his direct duties specified in the job description.
The quantity surveyor should be:
responsible – a person holding such a position usually makes decisions related to the use of significant amounts of material resources. The information provided by the estimator must be accurate, otherwise, the company will face losses;
attentive – the slightest mistake can lead to an overstatement of the cost of the object, the omission of some expense item, or the choice of an unsuitable supplier;
punctual – any delay threatens with additional costs, which in most cases is unacceptable;
assiduous – estimate engineers are forced to spend hours and even days comparing numbers and data, looking for optimal solutions. Not everyone will be able to perform monotonous work for such a long time, maintaining the required level of quality;
communicative – such employees have to communicate with customers, suppliers, financiers. They often have responsibilities for planning the work and their basic organisation;
resistant to stress – estimates are responsible for large amounts of money, the reliability of the analysis, the plans and schedules.
It is not easy to find a good professional in this field in Australia. The quantity surveyor is a builder and an accountant in one person. An experienced surveyor helps builders not only minimise costs but also avoid many problems in the process. Make sure to hire the right quantity surveyor from Brisbane for your construction site.
Conclusion
The demand for quantity surveyors is growing rapidly. Serious construction or industrial projects cannot do without such specialists. Such employees are needed at construction sites, industrial enterprises, consulting firms, architectural and design bureaus. They are involved in government, private, and even international projects.
