Homeowner Services

Childhood memories for most of us will include standing in front of the pick ‘n’ mix stand and wondering what to get – my favourite was the pink chocolate mice but they were big and heavy so I might not indulge for fear of not getting value for my £3 as was the currency back then !! I might have got a large scoop of jelly beans instead – even though I didn’t particularly like them, at least I was getting volume. Wouldn’t it be a great idea if there was a little hand held weighing gadget which would guide you….

Having a Quantity Surveyor on your House Project is akin to having that weighing gadget at the pick ‘n’ mix stand. A guiding hand which will help you make important decisions relating to the construction of your new home. What roof finish ? Which windows ? How much to spend on internal doors ? If we have unforeseen costs how will we cover them ?

 The role of a quantity surveyor is to provide cost advice on all aspects of construction, this is our sole purpose in the design team.

What Will A Quantity Surveyor Bring to The Project ?

Before deciding whether a Quantity Surveyor is right for your project, it is important to know precisely what’s involved and informing yourself on how a Quantity Surveyor can add value to the project and support you in achieving your project goals.

In general, there are three stages to a construction project:

Stage 1: Budget Stage

At early design stage an estimate is compiled based on concept / pre-planning / planning drawings. We will discuss all of the likely elements and options available for your project. We will set a budget for the construction of the project to create a baseline for the next stage of detailed design.

The Budget Stage is important as it saves time and money – too many people design their dream home and without any budgets, they seek planning permission. After planning is received they look into getting builders to tender – if tender figures do not match their pockets they are in trouble. The design needs to be revisited and planning re-sought at a cost – both financial and time. For this reason, I see the Budget Stage as one of the most important stages of the process.

2. Tender Stage

Following detailed design from your Architect/ Engineer, the Quantity Surveyor takes the the drawings and specification and creates a document known as a Bill of Quantities (BOQ). This forms the pricing document for potential building contractors. The main advantage of the BoQ is that all builders tendering must price the exact same document; this ensures clarity, comparability and openness in the tender process. It will be very clear following the tender analysis which contractor has provided the most competitive quote.

3. Post-Contract Stage

We can provide cost consultancy throughout the build, recommending the value of interim payments to the builder based on progress carried out each month and assessing the value of any changes made to ensure value for money. The advantage of having the Bill of Quantities is that it forms a basis for any changes to the works required, be they credits or extras.

Angela Crossan QS Ltd can provide you with a competitive quote for one or all three stages listed above.