Patricia Power is a well-known Irish Quantity Surveyor. Having featured on RTÉ’s much-loved TV show ‘Room to Improve’, she has a direct, honest approach backed up with years of experience. We sit down with Patricia to talk about the ins and outs of quantity surveying and project management and uncover everything a homeowner needs to know if thinking about enlisting the services she offers.
I would advise once you’ve selected your architect, then I would also select a QS and engage them to prepare a cost plan on the project at the early design stage/ before planning to ensure you get the plans accurately costed to ensure you can afford to build the dream before you lodge for planning permission. As this is the stage to take your time and get the plans to work with your budget, it takes time to get this right, but it is all on paper and it’s only costing you time at this stage. Any projects over 200-250k should have a QS involved, projects under this range may require one-off advice or consultation from a QS.
Really for a QS to engage, they would need draft plans for the works proposed, sketch schemes are adequate, and an idea of the client budget and timelines.
My costs would always include for a completed building, that is in walk-in turn-key to include i.e. all floor finishes, wall tiling, kitchen units, sanitary ware down to shower doors, built-in furniture, wardrobes, etc and fully decorated. The budgets for these would be set at a very early stage of the project, as they have a big impact on the overall spend. I would liaise with the designer on the budgets and assist in keeping within the provisions. Items not in the cost would be curtains, blinds, loose furniture and fittings, electrical appliances, TV’s etc. Items that you bring to a home to put your personal stamp on it. So it would be worth chatting through these items with an interior designer earlier on and budgeting for them.
All projects require a design team, the architect for the plans and ideas, the engineer to make it stand up, and the QS to make the costs real. All construction professionals constantly work and circulate with different practices on ranges of projects, so they bring skill and expertise to the table, which in turn reduces mistakes and allows the projects to run as smoothly as possible on site.
1. Invest in the overall comfort levels of your home, i.e. money spent on insulation to walls, attic spaces, etc. may not be seen, but it will enhance the quality of your living experience in your home.
2. Review more energy-efficient heating and hot water options i.e. new high energy efficient boiler with heating controls, solar panels, heat pumps, etc. Even smaller items like a new stove, fitting lower energy light bulbs, adding lagging jackets to hot water cylinders all lead to reductions in utility bills.
3. Always ensure you are using VAT and grant registered contractors, so you can benefit from the government lead schemes and grants in place at the time of the works.
4. Always try and obtain at least 3 quotes, out of these you should get the contractor or tradesman that is genuinely interested and has priced it correctly. Do ask for references, from previous customers and any designers or surveyors they have worked with.
Yes, I always wanted to go into construction, I had a natural interest from an early age. I completed my CAO form and focused on the technical courses, as this was my area of preference.
The best money they will ever spend, we are practical, professional, and business-like and will cost manage your build to ensure value for money and cost control. Your professional quantity surveying practice works on new one-off houses, extensions, renovations, and general home improvements.
I have the pleasure of working with a lot of very talented professionals and designers, so I get to see the most amazing homes. However what I love is bringing back an old home to life, giving it the care and attention it needs, and making it new and special again.
Before you go for planning, ensure you get the plans accurately costed to ensure you can afford to build the dream before you lodge for planning permission. As this is the stage to take your time and get the plans to work with your budget, it takes time to get this right, but it is all on paper and it’s only costing you time at this stage.
I like to call it the bible, it takes all the information from the architect and engineers drawings and quantifies the works, allowing the builder to price it at ease, it ensures there are no grey areas between the drawings, allows the client to set budgets for client items like windows, tiling, kitchen, etc. Then it allows ease of comparison when the prices are returned. It puts the client in control of the costs.
Always try and obtain at least 3-4 quotes, out of these you should get the contractor that is genuinely interested and will price it correctly. Do ask for references, from previous customers and any designers or surveyors they have worked with. And do go see recent projects, as you are as good as your last project.
Yes, I attend the site to review progress against the program, check work in line with the contract, variation assessments, carry out and agree on monthly valuations of works done with the contractor. Cost manage any changes that may occur and advise the client of costs at all times. (minimum monthly cost reports) Agree and settle the final account and report to client and architect.
Its become a worldwide problem, material prices have greatly increased and it is now starting to have a dramatic effect on the overall build cost. I am seeing a bottom-line increase of 6-10% since March of this year.
Within the cities, it would be mainly refurbishment and extension, rare I would do one without the other and new builds would be in the greener areas. My projects would range in value from €500,000 up to €5,000,000. Changes and curveballs are almost an inevitability when it comes to residential construction.
There is always a solution and a way forward, we can always look at alternatives way of building or materials, where there’s a will there’s a way.
Sometimes clients can get carried out when it comes to finishes, they visit the showrooms and can be blown away. Once budgets are set at the early stage and they are real, if a client wishes to spend more, that is their call, it is their home, it is my job to make them aware of the overall cost.
There is always a new trend, at present, I am seeing a lot of charred larch cladding to exteriors. Mansion weave floors are coming back and so is wallpaper.
