Development involves doing a feasibility study on a site, examining the purchase price, estimating the building cost, the development cost of sewerage, water, roads, power and telecommunications. It's then time to estimate quantities, purchasing and the nomination of sub-contractors such as bricklayers, carpenters and electricians. The best part of the job for Stewart is the overall involvement he has in the day to day running of the company in comparison to an engineer. The QS is the best link between the office and the site regarding financial control of the company in general. The worst part of the job in Stewart's experience, is when it all goes wrong.
Surveying is all about money and people tend to get very upset when money is involved.
After two years, Quantity surveyors can command salaries of 28 000. According to Stewart, the trend in England and the continent at the moment is soon to take off here where clients are looking for Quantity Surveyors as project managers rather than architects and engineers because their emphasis is on controlling cost. Once you learn your trade, there are opportunities for Quantity Surveyors to progress into Contract Management within a contracting company or to become a project manager with a private company. On the continent, Quantity Surveyors with a language are being snapped up, especially in Spain where there is no end to construction work in the resorts. Stewart is currently working on a 3 million apartment development in Galway city.