What does a quantity surveyor do?

We are construction cost consultants - we devise a budget based on plans and specifications and make sure the building is built to that budget, or we reconcile any overs and unders with the client. Our preference is to be involved from concept to completion.

How does your role differ from that of a project manager?

We're not project managers, we're cost managers. Residential projects involve emotional decisions and a lot of information to trawl through. Sometimes people lose track of the costs altogether. We go through all that in detail. We aim to deliver cost savings of three times our fee.

Some people say that many building projects come in at double their initial estimates. Does that have to be the case?

No. You get a budget and manage to that budget. If you want to push a budget out knowingly, that's fine. But we work with the architects and structural engineers and others involved from the outset to deliver something in line with budget expectations. Projects tend to go over budget because of a lack of knowledge. We vet variations, negotiate costs on behalf of the client, and ensure everything comes in on target.