What Is The Responsibility Of A Client's Quantity Surveyor?

Saady Chohan / 18 Sep, 2022

What is the responsibility of a Client's Quantity Surveyor?

The client's Quantity Surveyors are said to be working on the consulting side of the project matrix; representing the client but also balancing the interests of both the client and the contractor. Their main aim is to ensure that the client gets value for their invested money.

The following are some of the typical duties performed by the client’s quantity surveyor from inception, through the contract to the post-contract stages of the construction project:

- Preparing approximate cost estimates in the very early stages of the formulation of a building project, and giving advice on the alternative materials and components and types of construction and the financial aspects of contracts.

- Cost planning and value analysis during the design stage of a project to ensure that clients obtain the best value for their money. By use of life cycle costing techniques, the QS ensures realistic and uniform distribution of costs to the various building elements.

- Advising on the most appropriate form of building procurement, having regard to the type of the project, quality, speed of construction, apportionment of risk and price certainty.

- Preparation of bills of quantities and other contract documents relating to the project.
Examining tenders and priced bills of quantities and reporting his findings.

- Negotiating rates with contractors on negotiated contracts and dealing with cost-reimbursement contracts, design and build, management and other forms of contracts.

- Valuing work in progress and making recommendations as to payments to be made to the contractor, including advising on the financial effect of the valuation.

- Preparing final account on completion of contract works.

- Advising on the financial and contractual aspects of the contractor’s claims.

- Giving cost advice and information at all stages of the contract and preparing cost analyses and cost reports to clients.

- Technical auditing, valuations for fire insurance, giving advice on funding, grants, capital allowances and taxation, risk analysis and management, and other related matters including health and safety and quality control.