Pricing the cost of building

Can anyone recommend any good quantity surveyors in the Kildare area? How much roughly does it cost to have them price your build or what factors does it depend on?

Would it be recommended to always consult one prior to applying for a mortgage or do people usually estimate the amount they wish to borrow depending on the price per m2 of the build?

If the house you are taking out the mortgage for is acting as collateral for the mortgage then the bank will normally request that your architect will give the cost of building the house.This will tell the bank how much you need for construction.As your house is being built the bank will normally release the money in 5 stages.As you complete each stage the architect signs it off and you draw the money down.

A bank would much prefer / and in some cases will insist that you get the costing from a Quantity Surveyor and not an Architect in the same way you would prefer to have drawings done by an Architect rather than a Quantity Surveyor.

Quantity surveyor charges vary like everything else and will depend on who you choose. You can get it done as a nixer or use a professional practice with full professional indemnity insurance. As a result the cost can be anywhere from €500 to a % of the build cost.

The factors that it depends on is mainly the specification. A builders finish is easy enough to cost but when you get involved in finishes it can be as long as a piece of string. This is mainly what a quantity surveyor will need to know or have an idea of to cost your building. The more information you provide the more accurite your cost will be.

Most people probably guess the cost for their mortgage based on others in the areas, friends etc etc but it is just a guess as no two houses are really that similar.

I work as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and you can get a Quantity Surveying firm to act on your behalf but they typically charge between 1 to 1.5% of build cost. However, like employing any consultant you are paying for the level of service etc as they have overheads to take into account. If you have a design that you believe will not change substantially and/or if you have an Architect on board then I would suggest you get a QS to (1) prepare an initial cost plan & Bill of Quantities, (2) be involved in contractor appointment (or if you are building by direct labour getting all the trades appointed), (3) Valuations & payments whether they are monthly or set by milsetones (4) Final account agreement.

Maybe I am biased but I cannot understand why more people do not employ Quantity Surveyors as I have known numerous one off housing projects where the Architect appoints a builder who subsequently goes bust. I do believe a good QS will save you up to 20% of final build cost. If you do employ a QS try and appoint someone who works with a Builder as they will have better contacts with Builders providers to get you discounts etc rather than a PQS.