Quantity Surveyors Vs. Building Surveyors
Whether you are looking at getting into construction or already work within the industry, you may have heard of and perhaps come across both Quantity Surveyors and Building Surveyorsbut many of you may wonder if there are differences in the roles and responsibilities of the 2 professions and if so, what exactly the differences are. Well, if you want these questions answered to make a career path decision or simply gain a better understanding of the 2, you are in the right place so keep reading! To put it simply, building surveyors focus more on the technical side of both the property and construction sectors. Meanwhile, quantity surveyors deal with the financial side of the construction industry, making sure every project is cost-effective. Both are covered and can be a member of RICS and can be invaluable team members on a construction project. Lets take a deeper look… We are going to with some of the most common responsibilities of Building Surveyors, these include: Surveying properties, identifying structural faults, and providing recommendations for essential repairs Assessing damage (following a fire or flood) for insurance purposes Establishing who is responsible for building repair costs Advising clients on issues such as property boundary disputes Inspecting properties to make sure that they meet building regulations, and fire safety and accessibility standards Dealing with planning applications and with improvement or conservation grants The main roles and responsibilities of Quantity Surveyors on the other hand more commonly include: Studying drawings and specifications about a new building, usually provided by architects or engineers Must use their strong financial, analytical, interpretative skills to ensure the smooth running of projects Calculating the materials, time, and labour costs of a project Preparing, negotiating, and analysing costs for project contracts Using their good interpersonal skills and abilities to organise teams Advising on a range of legal and contractual issues Valuing completed work and arranging for payments to be made or preparing applications for payment to be submitted to clients. So, as you can see from the roles and responsibilities, a typical day at the office is likely to look pretty different for building surveyors and quantity surveyors. A great way to look at it is the information gathered by building surveyors at construction siteswill be used to prepare contract and tender documentation and advise the client before construction commences. In turn, these documents will then be given to the quantity surveyor,so they can use the information to prepare bills of quantities and take the project further through pricing and cost management throughout. Quantity Surveyors are also extremely likely to be involved after projects during the final accounting stage.
Which Quantity Surveying Chartership Is Best For You?
Quantity Surveying is a profession that consists of many levels depending on experience and knowledge. The career path of many quantity surveyors tends to follow the below: · Assistant Quantity Surveyor · Quantity Surveyor · Senior Quantity Surveyor · Chartered Quantity Surveyor Obtaining Chartership status is very often the pinnacle of the quantity surveying profession and naturally means, people can demand higher wages due to their skills and experience being in such high demand. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is perhaps the most known and respected Chartership status within the industry but what you may not know is that they are not the only certified institution that a quantity surveyor can obtain Chartershipstatus with. This short blog is going to look at the professional qualifications for quantity surveyors that by achieving, will grant Chartership status and consequently improved career progression. RICS The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is arguably the leading qualification body for land, construction, and related environmental issues. RICS has a hand in setting, maintaining, and regulating professional standards globally. The institution regularly advises businesses and governments in industry matters so naturally all members of RICS must provide a high standard of service, advice, and integrity in whichever part of the world they operate. Generally, to become qualified with RICS you must have a RICS accredited degree and complete their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) requirements. For more detail on this check out our dedicated MRICS qualification video and blog on this website and youtube! CICES The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) is an international qualifying body dedicated to the regulation, education and training of surveyors working within civil engineering. CICES is now recognised as the leading chartered professional body for Quantity Surveyors in the Civil engineering sector. The requirements to qualify for CICES chartered status include: · A completed principal sponsor’s form. · A detailed CV (1500-2000 words). · An experience report (1500-2000 words). · A completed set of ICES core and specialist competencies, signed off by the applicant’s supervisor. · A record of continuing professional development (CPD) undertaken in the last two years, andcopies of qualification certificates. CIOB The Chartered Institute of Building is an internationally-recognised organisation specialising inmanagement and leadership in construction. The institute achieved a Royal Charter which was granted to them in 1980 as they provided a benefit to society by promoting the science and practice of building. The institute has over 45,000 members worldwide, working in over 100 countries. In addition to its professional reputation, the CIOB also contributes to research and development within the construction industry. To become fully chartered with CIOB, candidates must complete an MCIOB structured programme which combines practical and theoretical aspects of study followed by examination. To become a member of the CIOB, members should also have several years of professional experience in construction.
