Construction Management - Cost Control

As outlined earlier in our introductory article, construction is a capital intensive affair. There are large amounts of money going into an intricate network of recipients and in different stages of the process, making it of utmost importance the control of all these finances and eventually result into the most appropriate cost, the best value for the proprietor's money. Like in other businesses, construction cost control requires the following key accounting tools to make success and are specially focused in quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi

• Budget training in quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi: This refers to a projection of the total cost for the construction foreseen. A budget ensures that one has a clear understanding of the task at hand. It is meant to ensure that the proprietor is in a position to mobilize enough finances to fund the process from beginning to ending. A construction budget is done at different stages, from the time that an aspiring realtor approaches consultants with their aspirations to build a house or construct a resort or whatever construction dream they might have. Initially, it will be a vague estimate, usually based on experience, for example, a three bedroomed house costs so many thousand dollars. If the proprietor is able to mobilize this amount, then design is done. When complete, a quantity surveyor prepares a Bills of Quantities (BoQ), an itemized cost schedule, just like the purchase list you take to the store. On this is usually a contingency amount, a figure estimated to absorb any changes that may arise (a very probable happening).
• Purchase list: The BoQ is then subjected to tendering process, aimed at selecting the most appropriate store to buy from, in this case, what contractor to involve in the construction. Contractors compete and the best offer (In most cases the lowest) is selected. The cost of the winning tender becomes the construction contract sum and forms the cost benchmark for all monies to be paid for the construction of the facility in question.
• Receipt: Like in all purchases, a receipt depicts the actual cost of the items bought. Construction work is paid in the form of certificates (part payments based on either a time frame or stages of completion). These payments are actual costs of the process. In most cases, there is a deviation from the budget, and this gives the most reliable information on cost, both for the present and for the future.
• Revised budget training in quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi: Once you are enlightened on the going rates at the store, you adjust your future budget. In the same way, in the course of construction, the costs estimated in the tender BoQ are adjusted to fit the circumstances. Incidental costs are also clearly depicted and as such, it is easier to project the final cost. This is called appraisal and is done periodically to update the financial landscape of the construction.
• Reporting: We are always answerable for what we do with money, whether ours or those of others. At the end of the month, you most probably look back and allocate all the money for the month to which use it went and net this off from whatever balance there might be. In the same way, when construction is complete, there is the obligation to account for all the finances input in construction and to answer the three accounting questions;
• What money was input
• Where did the money go
• How much remained

When this is done, it is in order to regard the process to have had good cost control. It is important to note that cost control is the responsibility of the proprietor; after all it is their money at stake. They appoint the right consultants, depending on the scope involved. This will range from a quantity surveyor for moderate projects to a cost consultant for large projects. Even with these consultants in place, the buck stops with the proprietor.

Construction Health and Safety

On the 6th of April 2007 the government introduced The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations which are designed to improve the general safety of construction sites and cut down on the number of accidents experienced during construction projects.

This new set of regulations will replace two predecessors - The CMD Regulations 1994 and The Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996. Any outdated regulations were updated before the two sets were consolidated into a single new set of rules and guidelines.

Despite advances in construction and communication technology construction sites are still considered to be unnecessarily dangerous working environments, with around one third of all workplace fatalities occurring in construction and many thousands of injured occurring during construction projects each year. These injuries and deaths have a wide reaching significant impact with colleagues, family, and friends and of course the unfortunate individual, not to mention the possible legal implications for the construction company involved. To be professional you must have quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi

The primary aim of the new regulations is to build construction health and safety into every stage of building projects from start to finish. The regulations apply to everyone involved with a construction project and stipulate that each must take account of health and safety. This starts with the Client who commissions the construction works and includes Designers, Principle Contractors, Contractors and Construction Workers.

Another aim of the new regulations is the discouragement and removal of all unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy which are since as a major contributing factor in construction injuries and fatalities. By eliminating hazards at the earliest stages of design and focusing effort where it will be most effective the new regulations should allow for more attention to be paid to important on site issues.

Whilst these benefits of the new CDM regulations clearly apply to construction companies, construction workers and other related professions, many of them also impact directly on clients who either do their own small scale construction and maintenance work or contract it out to others. All of them must have quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi. If a person believes the new regulations do not affect them because they are not involved in the construction industry then they are probably wrong. For example, if the person has responsibility for any property that requires occasional maintenance work then, as the Client, they are required to comply with some very specific duties.

Within the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations a domestic client is defined as anyone who lives, or will live in the premises where the construction work is carried out. Although a domestic client does not have construction health and safety duties under the CDM Regulations 2007 anyone employed by them on a construction project will.

Other roles also have defined duties under the new CDM regulations, for example:

Designers - this includes any person responsible for any part of the design work such as Architects, Project Managers, quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi, Engineers, Interior Designers or anyone else who is traditionally employed on the design stage of a construction project as a "contractor".

Principal Contractor - this is the key duty holder responsible for including health and safety compliance in the overall planning, effective management and coordination of the construction phase.

Quantity Surveyor Training

A quantity surveyor, originating in the United Kingdom, may have several titles. They can be referred to as Chartered Quantity Surveyors, a construction cost consultant or a commercial manager. Chartered Quantity quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi belong to the tsk which is found in Canada and other regions of the world as well. Quantity surveyors could work for the client or for the contractor assigned to complete the project. Depending on the client, you could work in an office or the client may want you right on the site.

The contracts and cost on the construction project, including the beginning startup work to the final figures to complete the project is what the quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi job consists of. The quantity surveyor must adhere to the required standards and quality while doing everything possible to minimize the costs and develop value for money. There are statutory building regulations that are mandatory for a surveyor to adhere to and completely understand. These regulations could be from basic building codes to recommendations of professional organizations that could surpass the building codes. To be a good quantity surveyor you should be good with numbers, be patient and be able to process a lot of information.

To become a quantity surveyor you can get recognized education or practical experience as a contractor and estimator. It is highly recommended for people who want to become advanced as a quantity surveyor to take advantage of professional organizations which provides access to confidential job listings, continuing education and principle enforcement.

There are no definite requirements to train to become a qs but if you want to qualify for more opportunities you would want to have 4 GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education) between A-C, achieve BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) or HND/HNC (Higher National Diploma/Higher National Certificate). The difference between a HND and a NNC is the Diploma is worth 120 CATS points and the Certificate is worth 60 CATS points. CATS points are Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme used as quantifying credits for certain courses.

Quantity Survey training can be done through the Chartered Institute of Building or the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Requirements of joining the CIOB are to hold an honors degree and two years of significant experience or pass the CIOB exam.

There is the quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi that offers an advanced apprenticeship which is a work-based learning program where you would spend one day a week in a college class room and four days a week with an employer. Then you will need a National Certificate in Construction that takes two years and a Higher National Certificate. Finally, you will need to do National Vocational Qualification in surveying support, then a RICS-accredited degree, and one year of Assessment of Professional Competence. So you can plan on about 8 years of work and education to become a qualified Quantity Surveyor.

Elements of a building construction

The practice of estimating building construction costs is as important a step as the construction itself and it is done through certified QS from quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi . In building a home, a facility or any other structure, it is important to approximate the amount that will be used on the project or come up with an estimate as close as possible to the actual costs. Most construction project failures, be it domestic or commercial, are caused by lack of balance in the anticipated cost of the project and the actual expenses.
Elements of a building construction cost estimate is main part of quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi
A building cost estimate should take into consideration a lot of factors. First is the time-frame of the project and the type and size of the building or structure that will be built. Another is labor cost or the wages that will be paid to the workers who will be doing the job. Third is the price of the materials like cement, metal, wood and whatever building supplies that will be used in the structure.
Another important concern is the equipment cost or the cost of the machinery that will be used in building the house or the facility. Subcontractor costs are also significant. And so are indirect costs, which are extras that will be spent outside the primary cost concerns. Aside from these, other expenses such as taxes, compliance costs and certification should be included in the estimate.
Tools of cost estimates in quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi
There are a number of tools and services that a building or home owner can consider to come up with an estimate for the project. One is the free online building estimate tool. These free online tools can be easily accessed and can provide a useful estimate for the project. Take note, though, that such tools are very basic and are good only for the start of the project.
Another option is hiring a professional cost estimator. There are a number of these professionals who will be more than willing to lend their services for a certain fee. Check for certification or choose the ones recommended by someone who has already tried the estimator's services. Software programs are also another option. These software packages are used by architects and builders when they make their own estimates and are deemed reliable. However, one might need an expert who knows how to use these programs and how to interpret the data they provide for them to be effective.
It is important to have an estimate of building construction costs before a homeowner or facility builder proceeds with the project. Unless the project will have unlimited budget and the owner can afford to throw a lot of money away, then estimates might not be needed. But then, we all know there is no one in the world who would risk wasting his money on an unplanned construction project, particularly the richest among us.

Why Quantity Surveyors are needed?

A Quantity Surveyor has a very important job in the construction industry. Their job is to control costs. These include costs for the building, as well as the cost in hiring people. In order to be a Quantity Surveyor, one needs to be smart, know how to do math rather well, and of course have proper schooling and training from quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi.

When there is a job that a company is going to begin, the Quantity Surveyor will figure out all of the costs. This includes costs for buying all of the supplies and material that are needed to complete the job. In order to figure the costs, one has to be able to measure the amount of materials that will be needed, and figure up with their superior math skills how much all of this will cost. This is an important part of the job, because if the materials are not figured properly it will mess everything up. There will not be enough money available for all the costs that are required to complete the project. The Surveyor has a very important job in the construction industry.

Commercial construction companies generally are the ones who contract quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi most. They can assist in keeping costs organized when it is a very big project. Large companies that need someone to work well with the whole construction team, as well as organize the entire job. Many people in the industry do not prefer reading blue prints, so they will hire a professional for the job. The Quantity Surveyor will also audit all paperwork and invoices that may come in.

Many companies who do not want to deal with the paperwork and financial part of the job. Well established companies hire a Quantity Surveyor for financial guidance, especially when the job is large and in the millions. Usually, one will remain a part of the team unless they are not fit for the position. QS can be found nationwide. They are needed in every country, basically anywhere that has building needs. The USA has many quantity surveying companies, as well as the UK. There is also a rising demand for these positions in areas such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Africa, and Australia. In the UK alone, there is an average of 75,000 people employed as a Quantity Surveyor.

An experienced, professional surveyor has a rather large salary, making an average of $80, 000 annually. This is depending on what company they work for and the amount of experience they have. Smaller companies may hire a Quantity Surveyor starting out around $40,000 per year. Many long term professionals in this field can make over $100,000 a year. Pay raises usually come to the surveyor when they prove that they are a fit for the job.

There are many job surveyors needed nationwide. With the proper education and a good resume, from quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi one is promptly considered for a Quantity Surveyor job. There are many local companies that hire for this position, as well as major companies in larger cities. You can search the web for positions available as well. Nationwide in all larger cities, Quantity Surveyors are needed. Demands for people in this business are always on the rise.

Quantity Surveyor Employment and Job Opportunities

A Quantity Surveyor has a very important job in the construction industry. Their job is to control costs. These include costs for the building, as well as the cost in hiring people. In order to be a Quantity Surveyor, one needs to be smart, know how to do math rather well, and of course have proper schooling and training from quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi.

When there is a job that a company is going to begin, the Quantity Surveyor will figure out all of the costs. This includes costs for buying all of the supplies and material that are needed to complete the job. In order to figure the costs, one has to be able to measure the amount of materials that will be needed, and figure up with their superior math skills how much all of this will cost. This is an important part of the job, because if the materials are not figured properly it will mess everything up. There will not be enough money available for all the costs that are required to complete the project. The Surveyor has a very important job in the construction industry.

Commercial construction companies generally are the ones who contract quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi most. They can assist in keeping costs organized when it is a very big project. Large companies that need someone to work well with the whole construction team, as well as organize the entire job. Many people in the industry do not prefer reading blue prints, so they will hire a professional for the job. The Quantity Surveyor will also audit all paperwork and invoices that may come in.

Many companies who do not want to deal with the paperwork and financial part of the job. Well established companies hire a Quantity Surveyor for financial guidance, especially when the job is large and in the millions. Usually, one will remain a part of the team unless they are not fit for the position. QS can be found nationwide. They are needed in every country, basically anywhere that has building needs. The USA has many quantity surveying companies, as well as the UK. There is also a rising demand for these positions in areas such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Africa, and Australia. In the UK alone, there is an average of 75,000 people employed as a Quantity Surveyor.

An experienced, professional surveyor has a rather large salary, making an average of $80, 000 annually. This is depending on what company they work for and the amount of experience they have. Smaller companies may hire a Quantity Surveyor starting out around $40,000 per year. Many long term professionals in this field can make over $100,000 a year. Pay raises usually come to the surveyor when they prove that they are a fit for the job.

There are many job surveyors needed nationwide. With the proper education and a good resume, from quantity surveyor courses in rawalpindi one is promptly considered for a Quantity Surveyor job. There are many local companies that hire for this position, as well as major companies in larger cities. You can search the web for positions available as well. Nationwide in all larger cities, Quantity Surveyors are needed. Demands for people in this business are always on the rise.