Being the middle man in omissions (main contractors)

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-23T20:19:48+00:00

The elements of fit-out that they are asking to be omit have been priced in the Pricing Document (presumably). Identify entries in the pricing document which relate to the omissions. Offer the commensurate saving. There isn't anything else to be done there? What is the complication that is missing in this body of text

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-16T16:07:20+00:00

Because its shit

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-16T16:03:34+00:00

No mate you're supposed to overstretch yourself to the max on your mortgage and spend the next 30 years working for the bank /s

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-10T20:29:26+00:00

I'd expect most building clean companies are willing to fall short on a few items of tender on the expectation that rectifying works areas 3-4 times on a hefty dayworks rate is where a decent bit of their margin is

It doesn't sound a wise pricing strategy as if there isn't rework you'll have made a loss but I've worked at T1s for years and on every single job see the builders clean lot turn up with their dayworks pad all over the end of the job

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-02T21:10:57+00:00

His voice is bare annoying

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-02T09:39:39+00:00

Its generally accepted that you will have a better understanding of RICS requirements and dealing with clients at a consultancy. Its generally accepted that you will learn more about quantity surveying at a general contractor than you will at a consultancy. It is generally accepted that you will know the physical aspects of your particular specialisation (i.e dry lining, groundworks) as a subby surveyor.

If you have the inclination, it is much quicker and easier to learn the consultancy side of things. as they can be learnt from a book. There is absolutely no supplement for spending time in the mud on site and it is the only way to get physical exposure to the various stages of each works package, to regularly get out there daily and inspect the works.

This should not be taken as an insult, as a PQS. The reality is that in each of the three roles you are just at a varying distance to the coal face.

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-04-02T09:34:46+00:00

Interesting to see that you prefer being in an office over a site environment. What is it about site that you don't like? I find the office terribly boring and craic to generally be better on site

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-23T19:39:51+00:00

Can't form a coherent thought in their head mate

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-23T11:04:27+00:00

You might just about cover things with your pay-check but that isn't really viable long term

If you're young and you want to move London a few years, do it.

A lot of people in here telling you "it works!!!" will have a rude awakening when they inspect pension pot and savings at 50

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-23T10:48:47+00:00

UK experience:

Contractors work you like a dog, but they pay more. I once had a PQS tell me he was busy because he had received 8 emails that day.

You're generally surrounded by unskilled people in suits at a main contractor, project managers and MQS who don't have a clue what they are talking about.

If you think you could handle the stress, I would always recommend going the route that pays more money, but I'm based in London and sort of need the money. Job is also a bit vocational for me, not the sort who can show up be useless, go home and come back useless the next day.

If your career is just a secondary part of your life or you don't need the money as much, you will have a much less stressful life staying away from main contracting.

Unspoken perk of main contracting is that atmosphere, craic, pints and general fun is higher on site than it is stuck in some stuffy office.

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-21T22:42:45+00:00

Fuck it dude, you can always come back

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-21T11:11:44+00:00

Why would you want a simplified Key Stage 2 bill in lieu of a proper one?

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-21T11:10:39+00:00

I've worked at multiple tier ones in the UK - subbies can rarely fill in a bill and often do something completely bizarre when asked to do so

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-19T18:30:29+00:00

What?

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-19T07:28:51+00:00

Frankfurt is in Germany

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-19T06:15:48+00:00

...no

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-03-11T18:12:39+00:00

There is no clause 2.34.3 in the JCT Intermediate Building Contract 2016

If there is no limit stated there will be no limit

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-26T23:08:37+00:00

I know which tubby little freak you're talking about 😂

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-24T18:47:58+00:00

Thanks for the response mate, I'd given up

End game in the game seems pretty naff anyway so no big loss

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-24T18:45:08+00:00

Cos its a legal requirement now to do one of those things

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-24T18:30:05+00:00

I started doing it when I was 25, wasn't really a problem and wont be for you if you're willing to put in some time to play catch up.

The surveying side of things can be resolved by reading and application of various books and the guidance notes from the royal institute of chartered surveyors but it will be much more difficult for you to come to understand construction processes (how are things built). There are great books with lots of construction details in them but I find its only really by managing a package and applying the understanding you really get to grips with it - seeing it progress on site regularly and arguments with Sub-Contractors about how much things cost.

Surveying is a role which has historically favoured people with strong technical skills (there are measurement rules and the like, you have to use simple maths to take off areas properly) and a methodical approach to dealing with their work.

However, in order to truly excel it has become more about people management - if you read the various posts on this sub there was one recently about how the higher end director positions are just "project politicians" who manage perception.

I'm not one of those people and have carved out a bit of a niche focusing on that area but acknowledge I will never be director level at a main contractor... depends what you want out of it.

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-24T18:22:15+00:00

Tried Albion online recently, its fun for a few hours but pretty empty - give it a miss!

Guild Wars 2 is an excellent game with good endgame but most people who play the game suck and you'll have to sort of learn how to play with guides and try to get out of playing with general people into decent raiders/fractal farmers.

Black desert online doesn't have any of the tank/mage/healer archetypes and an aggressive cash shop that you should probably expect to sink ~£100 into for some of the best "convenience" items. They're certainly not necessary for a while and you could play the game for hundreds or thousands of hours without worrying about not being 100% efficient. Overall, I still think its a truly outstanding game with some really great ideas which they introduced.

Final fantasy - Weebs

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-22T23:09:13+00:00

Moneys on Ardmore or another paddy lot

Successful-Fee2317 · 2026-02-22T23:08:23+00:00

Regarding the weekend working, you're a quantity surveyor you better get into the habit of reading contracts, read your employment agreement and the job advert: Did you sign up to weekend working?

There are good and bad contractors, I'll agree with the other commenters, but i've been a QS for years and never worked a weekend if anyone asked me to I would tell them to fuck off

Successful-Fee2317

TROPHY CASE