Why you need the services of a quantity surveyor

A residential development in Karen. Photo/Courtesy 

By Isabella Mukumu 

Most times when one starts building their home, they are overwhelmed by the amount of work and detail they need to work on or account for as the building comes up.

After the planning and design part is done by the architect, one needs to know exactly how much the whole project will cost. And this should be done at the beginning of the project so that there are no surprises along the way which may lead to building works stopping or slowing down.

This is when you need to bring in the services of a quantity surveyor who will value the cost of the building up to the finished stage.

David Gaitho, a quantity surveyor and the chairman of Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya, says that over the years, the role of quantity surveyors has changed to include more intricate roles.

He took us through the role of a quantity surveyor to give a clear picture of their importance as you plan your house.

Cost advisor

The major role of a quantity surveyor is as a cost advisor where they value the cost of the building up to completion and give a valuation of every aspect of the project from the measurements, building materials needed all the way upto contractor’s pay.

“In most cases, the clients will have a design in hand but after the valuation by the quantity surveyor, they may find that they are not able to fund the project, leading them back to the drawing board or forcing them to look for more money,” says Gaitho.

He adds that the difference between a fundi and a quantity surveyor is that the latter will give turn-key interpretation of the cost while the former will give a budget estimate which at most times will be surpassed.

The Quantity Surveyor, a quarterly magazine by the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya has a well stipulated worksheet that aids in valuing the total cost of a project.

“The magazine is famous among those who have projects as it gives the current construction costs in Kenya, a template which is also used by contractors to get the average rate of a project measured per square metre,” he adds.

Documentation

Quantity surveyors also help in the preparation of tender documents when seeking a contractor for major projects. This is through a Bill of Quantities document which entails greater details on the quantities and specifications of the building materials to be used.

The timeline for the project to be complete is also defined in the Bill of Quantities, this helps to give contractors a clear picture of the contract and to help them value the cost of the contract when they give in their bid.

Selection of the contractor