To QS or not to QS?

[Fi and J]

We have planning for a self build w formative budget 520k, hopefully events in Middle East won’t derail this beyond recognition. QS (who is local) is asking for approx 10k incl vat to go through detailed design, tender analysis and contract review. Architect suggests she can populate formative cost document to get to tender thus saving this 10k. Is skipping QS at this stage likely to save money or lose money later? 
 

thank you for your wisdom! 

[Mike]

A lot depends on how you plan to get the work done. If you want a single contractor to do everything (or everything up to a defined point - e.g. leaving you decorating), then having a good local QS on board to run a tender (and to oversee the ongoing contract financially) is often a good move. If you plan to split the work into different elements that you (or your site manager) will be coordinating, then you may well be dealing with smaller contractors who may not be used to pricing work that way.

 

See my comments here (and the thread in general) for more.

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, Fi and J said:

We have planning for a self build w formative budget 520k, hopefully events in Middle East won’t derail this beyond recognition. QS (who is local) is asking for approx 10k incl vat to go through detailed design, tender analysis and contract review. Architect suggests she can populate formative cost document to get to tender thus saving this 10k. Is skipping QS at this stage likely to save money or lose money later? 
 

thank you for your wisdom! 

Who is principal contractor? 
 

It’s their role to do due diligence and help you reach out for costs, with tenders.