When preparing detailed and summary cost plan reports, you may hear Quantity Surveyors referring to Elements, rather than to Trades. This is part of our training and it is a system of cost planning that allows us to comprehensively measure, price and prepare a cost plan for any building at almost any stage of design. [...]
Bill of Quantities explained
January 19, 2012 By
A Bill of Quantities (BQ, or BoQ … and sometimes referred to as a Bills of Quantities) are prepared by Quantity Surveyors to provide an extensive and itemised trade list, including a description and quantity, of each of the components or items required for a construction project. In Australia the format and content are generally [...]
By Separate Contractor… What does this mean?
January 19, 2012 By
Tendering is hard enough – deadlines – closing times – addendum – quotes coming in late – documentation overload – but it doesn’t help when you find this note on the documents: “By Separate Contractor” These three words appear often, and I wish they wouldn’t – Why? This is most confusing for the Estimator when [...]
Contingencies… explained
January 18, 2012 By
I get the occasional comment that Cost Planners add too many unknown allowances to a Cost Plan… You know, over-pricing it a bit just to be on the safe side. And so clients may then feel the project is way too costly and decide not to proceed – thus putting a sad end to a [...]
Cost Plan Report Example
December 16, 2011 By
Here is a sample of a typical detailed Cost Plan Report I would prepare for a residential project at the Schematic Design, Design Development and, even, Pre-tender Stages. Please note though: as I am constantly updating, improving and reviewing the format and content of my cost plan template, not all reports will look exactly like [...]
Labour and Trade form for tender documents
January 19, 2012 By
Your tender documents should include a form to be completed by the tenderers (and especially before signing a contract) summarizing the costs of tradespeople to be used on the site – that can then be sued to assist in reviewing variations and ‘hourly rates’ work fairly. This list should consider Normal Hours as well as [...]
List of Abbreviations … and Initialisms
January 19, 2012 By
We all come from varying backgrounds, professions, experience and education … so be careful when using abbreviations, and also ‘jargon’, in your documents. What means one thing to one person may mean something else to someone else. Here are some abbreviations that I have seen and used… (And if I’ve left anything out, please let [...]
Preliminary Specification Example
December 16, 2011 By
The purpose of this sample is to provide an indicative format and content for specification notes that can be provided to the Cost Planner to help with preparing a Schematic Design Cost Plan Report for most residential projects. This sample of course doesn’t cover all items required or all possible circumstances that may be encountered [...]
Tendering Etiquette
October 8, 2011 By
I see and hear of many tenders being conducted… in many different ways. And sometimes they are a real concern. Tendering (for both the main contract and sub-contracts) is a very important process in the construction industry and should be handled professionally and consistently. After all, it is the beginning of the contractual process and [...]
“Mates” in the industry… we’ve all got them
January 27, 2012 By
When a client says they have “mates” in the industry, it sends a shiver down my spine. They tell me they’ll save a fortune on their project – but the reality, I feel, is that it saves very little. Mates are usually professionals, sub-contractors, tradies or suppliers and so they are businesses as well and [...]
