Quantity surveyors are cost estimators who work with clients to calculate the cost of a construction project. They use their knowledge of construction materials and labor rates to provide an accurate estimate of the total cost of a project. Quantity surveyors also work with architects and engineers to ensure the project is completed within budget.
During the course of large construction projects, quantity surveyors establish budgets and oversee the financial and contractual aspects of the site. These professionals ensure that construction meets quality standards and remains within budget.
What Is a Quantity Surveyor?
A quantity surveyor is a building budget analyst or a construction project manager. Their main job is to keep fees in line with a budget to ensure the job is on budget. As a quantity surveyor, your job responsibilities include providing this estimate based on the measurements noted in building design documents and the components needed, negotiating contracts to best fit your budget, providing advice on securing materials, and preparing documents such as the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), Tender Document, and Order of Magnitude.
How to Become a Quantity Surveyor
To become a quantity surveyor, you must be a whiz with complex mathematical and analytical skills. To become qualified for the job, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, or building science. While pursuing an academic education, take classes in basic carpentry and electrical wiring to help you work with the equipment and tools used in the construction industry. You should also search for internship opportunities after graduating. After completing your education, you are allowed to work as a digital assistant arguable quantity surveyor.
Where Can a Quantity Surveyor Work?
As a quantity surveyor, you can work in the public sector or the private sector. Government agencies at all levels hire quantity surveyors to help administer construction projects on behalf of the agency. A quantity surveyor must maintain the government accountable if it doesn’t need to spend as much money as it should. Private sector vets may specialize as quantity surveyors for today’s construction industry, corporate infrastructure, or sustainable building. If you have two to five years of experience as an assistant or intern quantity surveyor before taking on leadership duties, you’ll have to fulfill these requirements. This work primarily takes place at an office.
Can You Be a Quantity Surveyor Without a Degree?
Because most quantity surveyors have a bachelor’s level in a certain area, becoming a quantity surveyor without one is possible. Rather than going directly to the school, it is time for you to gain related work experience first. Construction, architecture, or project management are a few abilities you could start out acquiring when beginning a career in quantity surveying. As you gain experience, you can become a cost engineer. You should understand construction sites, building technologies, and business contracts before completing construction projects.
How to Be a Good Quantity Surveyor
Having strong work ethics and sharp minds will help you to have a successful career as a quantity surveyor. You should be a smart person who thinks logically about practicality at all times. You must have excellent mathematical and financial skills to formulate sound estimates for cost estimates and proposals. You also need solid communication and bargaining skills to convince the client and contractor that the resources will be allocated according to your requirements and that the project will stay on schedule. An excellent surveyor keeps the project on time and within budget.
Is Quantity Surveyor a Good Job?
Interested in numbers, negotiating, and constructing? A career as a quantity surveyor is a good career choice for you because you get into the construction business from start to finish without having to do any manual labor yourself. There’s plenty of time left in the working day to reflect and meditate on project sites, but time spent on-site and outdoors doesn’t just balance out with time spent in the office crunching numbers. Being a level three quantity surveyor is a managerial role in the construction sector.
In conclusion, Quantity Surveyors are an important part of the construction industry. They help to keep projects on track and on budget by calculating costs and ensuring that materials are ordered in the correct quantities. If you are considering a career in construction, or are just curious about what a Quantity Surveyor does, I hope this article has been helpful.
