Birmingham & West Midlands — Cost & Commercial Management Quantity Surveying in the West Midlands
Client-side quantity surveying for developers, public sector clients and businesses across the West Midlands. Accurate cost advice from the first sketch to the final account, so your budget holds.
Overview
Cost certainty, from day one
Construction costs in the Midlands have moved sharply over the last few years, with material prices, labour availability and contractor appetite all shifting. A budget set at feasibility that isn’t actively managed is rarely the budget you finish on.
We work on the client side, setting realistic cost plans, testing value as the design develops, running tenders and controlling change on site. Every figure we give you is one we’re prepared to stand behind.
Our quantity surveying is led by a chartered surveyor (MRICS) based in Sutton Coldfield, working with clients across Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Walsall and the wider Midlands, and on projects across the UK.
Scope of Services
What we do
Full pre- and post-contract quantity surveying, or a single service where you need it.
Cost Plans & Estimates
Order of cost estimates and elemental cost plans through the RIBA stages, benchmarked against current Midlands market rates.
Value Engineering
Testing design options to protect value, not just cut cost, so savings don’t come back as problems later.
Procurement & Tendering
Tender documents, pricing schedules and bills of quantities, followed by thorough tender analysis and negotiation.
Valuations & Payments
Monthly valuations and payment certificates under JCT and NEC, issued accurately and on time.
Change Control
Assessing variations and compensation events quickly and fairly, with a clear forecast of the final cost every month.
Final Accounts
Agreeing the final account promptly and robustly, so the project closes without lingering disputes.
Our Approach
How we manage your costs
Order of Cost
We set a realistic budget from the brief, the site and current market conditions, including allowances for risk and inflation.
Cost Planning
We update the cost plan as the design develops, flag pressures early and give the design team clear targets.
Procurement
We prepare the tender documents, run the tender and analyse the returns so you appoint on a like-for-like basis.
Appointment
We help settle the contract sum, amendments and payment terms before anyone starts on site.
Commercial Control
Monthly valuations, change control and cost reports with an honest forecast of the final cost.
Final Account
We agree the final account and release of retention, so the project finishes cleanly.
Why October Projects
Why clients choose our quantity surveying
Senior, hands-on QS
Your costs are prepared and checked by a chartered surveyor, not passed down a chain.
Real Midlands market knowledge
We know current rates, contractor capacity and appetite across the region, so our estimates reflect what tenders actually return.
Straight answers
If a budget isn’t achievable, we tell you early and give you options, rather than letting the tender tell you.
Read more about our Cost & Commercial Management service, or see our estimating service for builders, contractors and architects.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What does a quantity surveyor do?
A quantity surveyor manages the cost of a construction project, from early estimates and cost plans through tendering, valuations and change control to the final account.
When should I appoint a quantity surveyor?
Ideally at feasibility, before design starts. Early cost advice has the biggest influence on what you build and what it costs.
Do you work for contractors as well as clients?
Our quantity surveying is client-side. We also provide estimating and cost planning support for builders, contractors and architects through a separate service.
Can you price a project from drawings?
Yes. We can prepare estimates and cost plans from sketches, planning drawings or full design information, with the level of detail matched to the stage.
Which contracts do you work with?
JCT and NEC, including design and build, traditional and two-stage arrangements.
Further reading: What does an Employer’s Agent do? · JCT or NEC: which contract is right for your project?
Start a Project
Tell us
about your scheme.
We’ll bring the programme, the governance and the certainty. Get in touch to discuss your project.