RICS accredited QS support for construction companies across Essex, London and the UK — from early-stage cost planning to final account.
The role of a Quantity Surveyor
A Quantity Surveyor manages the financial and commercial side of a construction project from first enquiry through to final payment. Before a contract is signed, that means translating drawings and specifications into measured costs — producing cost plans at early design stages, preparing detailed Bills of Quantities (BOQs) for tender, pricing packages for subcontractors, and carrying out accurate material and labour take-offs. The goal is to give the contractor a clear, defensible number before committing to the work.
Once a project is on site, the QS role shifts to protecting and recovering the commercial position. That includes valuing work in progress for interim applications, identifying and pricing variations as the scope changes, managing the subcontractor supply chain commercially, and progressing the final account through to agreed settlement. Without this support, contractors routinely leave money on the table — through under-claimed applications, unpriced variations, or final accounts that drag on without resolution.
Most small to mid-size contractors don't have the budget or the workload to justify a full-time QS on the payroll. The work is project-specific — it spikes during the tender period, picks up again on site, and there are quieter periods in between. That's where a freelance Quantity Surveyor makes commercial sense: you access chartered-level expertise exactly when the project demands it, without the ongoing employment overhead.
Whether you need someone to price an upcoming tender, manage the commercial side of a live project, or bring a difficult final account to a close, the scope of work and fee are agreed upfront — no surprises, no open-ended commitment.
Professional standards
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is the globally recognised professional body for the built environment. Achieving RICS accreditation — and the designation of Chartered Surveyor — requires demonstrating a rigorous standard of technical knowledge, professional competence and ethical conduct, assessed through a structured Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). It is not a qualification that can be bought or bypassed; it is earned through demonstrated experience and peer examination.
For contractors, working with an RICS accredited QS means the cost plans, BOQs and valuations produced are prepared to the recognised industry methodology — NRM for cost planning and bills, RICS valuation standards for interim and final accounts. That matters when documents are being scrutinised by a client's QS, a funder, or a dispute resolver. It also means you have recourse: RICS members are bound by a professional code of conduct and carry the accountability that comes with a chartered designation.
In a market where the title "Quantity Surveyor" carries no legal protection — anyone can call themselves one — RICS accreditation is the clearest signal that the person preparing your numbers has met an independently verified standard. That should matter to any contractor submitting tenders, managing project finances, or negotiating final accounts where accuracy and credibility count.
What I offer
Specialist support across the full project cycle — pre-contract and post-contract. Each service is priced on a fixed fee agreed before any work begins.
Accurate, measured take-offs from drawings and specifications. Material and labour quantities extracted and structured for pricing — new build, refurbishment and fit-out.
View service →Full tender pricing and BOQ preparation for competitive submission. Subcontractor enquiries issued, returns analysed, and a robust, compliant bid delivered on time.
View service →Fully measured, NRM-compliant Bills of Quantities prepared to the standard required for competitive tender, contract formation and post-contract cost control.
View service →On-site commercial support — interim valuations, variation management, subcontractor account control, and final account negotiation through to agreed settlement.
View service →Why contractors choose Hobday QS
You get the commercial rigour of a chartered surveyor without the overhead of employment. The fee is agreed before the work starts so there are no surprises — and no retainer when the project is done.
Get in touch
Tell me what you need — whether it's a single tender, ongoing site support, or a final account that needs closing out. I'll come back to you the same day with a clear, fixed fee.