What to expect when engaging a Cost Consultant / Quantity Surveyor

When it comes to delivering successful construction projects, the role of a Cost Consultant / Quantity Surveyor (QS) is often misunderstood. Many assume a QS is simply someone who produces Cost Plans and Bills of Quantities. While these are both correct, an experienced professional offers far more. From the earliest strategic option consideration to the final cost for a project, having a great QS can be the difference between a project that runs smoothly and one that spirals into expensive delays and disputes.

Engaging with a QS on your project is an investment, and should more than cover its own cost in payback to you, as well as giving you peace of mind throughout the project. Here’s what you can expect when you bring a QS on board, and why their involvement from the outset is essential to your project’s success.

A strategic partner from day one

Fundamentally, the QS is there to manage the project budget throughout every stage. Ideally, they’re involved before you even commit to purchasing a building or greenlighting a concept. Early engagement means they can work with designers to flesh out your brief, helping you realise what’s truly possible within your financial parameters, as the design decisions are being made.

By the time you reach RIBA Stage 2 or 3, a significant proportion of your costs will already be “locked in” simply by choosing your building’s size, shape, and positioning, structure, M&E strategy, etc. If you haven’t had QS input at that point, you risk discovering later that the design is outwith your budget which is a frustrating place to be, and often results in delay or dilution of the concept, leading to resentment amongst stakeholders. In those scenarios, yes, a QS can of course still help fix an over-budget scheme, but it’s an uphill struggle involving rework or cuts you probably wish you didn’t have to make. It’s much easier to get it right from the beginning.

From the earliest stage, when you are first imagining what is possible, a QS works alongside you, your architects and designers to align your vision with your budget. They help you understand what’s achievable within your financial parameters, ensuring that early design decisions are made with cost implications in mind. This proactive approach prevents the common scenario where a project is over budget before it even reaches tender stage.

More than just cost control

While cost management is a core responsibility, a QS’s expertise extends far beyond this. Here’s how they add value at every stage of your project:

While controlling costs is a core responsibility, the QS’s involvement extends deeper. They track design development at every milestone, ensuring the project remains aligned with the agreed budget. That alignment also requires input into specific options with other consultants, for example which heating, cooling and ventilation strategies might be most cost efficient for the building’s goals. They are responsible for leading value engineering (which is an ongoing iterative process, not just about reducing cost when a project is over budget) to find ways of delivering the project more efficiently.

The QS often leads the tender process, including prequalification of contractors, preparing key tender documents such as pricing schedules, contract particulars, preliminaries, and so on. They’ll manage the tender process, compare tender submissions, and make formal recommendations.

Throughout construction, they will make recommendations to the client on interim payment amounts, monitor and negotiate the cost of changes, and keep you up to date with the anticipated final cost through regular cost reporting. Finally, they wrap up the final account, agreeing the total project cost with the contractor on your behalf.

The “oh crap” moment when most people realise they need a QS

While many experienced developers and occupiers know that a QS is essential to the success of their project, unfortunately many people undertaking a project for the first time only recognise the value of the QS when they hit a crisis on their project and realise that they need one! This is usually that is when a design is over budget, unexpected issues have occurred, or a blown contingency. It’s in these moments that many realise “this is what a QS is for.” But the reality is, with early involvement, many of these issues could have been avoided altogether.

The investment into fees for a QS may seem like an added expense to your budget, but a good QS will almost always deliver significantly more value to your project than the cost of their fee – whatever your drivers are – whether they be delivering the most cost effective building that meets your needs, or delivering the project quickly and on budget so you can use the space or maximise sales values.

A QS is a problem preventer, as well as a problem solver. By embedding cost certainty into your project from the outset, they help you avoid the reactive, costly fixes that derail timelines and budgets.

The Torridon approach – giving you clarity, certainty, and confidence

At Torridon, our approach is built on The Torridon Way, and guided by our 5 Principles of Cost Certainty, a proven framework that integrates design, budgeting, and construction phases seamlessly. In addition to what you would come to expect from a cost consultancy, here’s what we promise:

• You’ll have a clear understanding of your budget at every stage, with no hidden surprises.
• We ensure your project stays within the agreed cost envelope, even as designs evolve.
• You’ll make decisions with confidence, backed by robust data and expert advice.

The biggest benefit? Alignment from the start

The most compelling reason to engage a QS early is budget alignment – you’ll have someone on your side who’s looking at design as it evolves, and ensuring this is efficient and on budget. You’ll have a dedicated professional scrutinising every design decision, flagging potential cost risks, and recommending practical solutions. This means you can make decisions proactively rather than scrambling to fix problems after they arise.

Your construction cost partner

While a QS can certainly step in mid-project to address budget issues, their real value lies in preventing those issues in the first place. By engaging a QS from the outset, you’re gaining a strategic partner who will be the champion of your financial interests on the project every step of the way.

So, if you’re considering appointing a QS, don’t settle for someone who only provides a cost estimate halfway through the design process. Look for a partner who will collaborate with you from concept to completion, helping you shape your project’s scope, tender effectively, and deliver your project with confidence. The result? A project that delivers on time, on budget, and to the highest standards. Without surprises.