Building cost experts

« The building cost expert is a cross-disciplinary player within every project, making the connection between the different parts, ensuring cohesion »

The engineer’s point of view

The role of the building cost expert has evolved tremendously over the past few years, and its importance keeps increasing. His holistic approach and general expertise make it a key player.

During the study phase, the building cost expert works on designing the project’s budget and technical aspects. He focuses on the total cost. During the construction phase, he makes sure the work is in compliance with the project’s budget and timeline.

In a time when regulation is fast evolving, when energy efficiency and quality standards are rising, his bird’s eye view allows him to foster dialog among project participants.

“Anticipating all aspects of the project to foresee timelines and rationalize costs before, during, and after the construction”.

“As a partner, the building cost expert must, at each stage in the project, bring forth his expertise and share his propositions.

It’s the technical and financial aspects of project management, making sure regulations are respected”.

The architect’s point of view

The building cost expert provides a budgetary, technical, and regulatory expertise.

During the design phase, the building cost expert checks the financial compatibility of the project with the set budget; he comes up with a timeline; he evaluates the project’s estimated costs for the final evaluation; he writes out the technical specifications and the comprehensive and all-inclusive price breakdown of different construction company offers; he puts together the construction company consultation file; etc.

During the company consultation phase, he analyzes and chooses construction company applications; analyzes the different offers, looks closely at the differences between them; he writes out a report on the different offers, including potential adjustments; etc.

During the construction phase, he monitors the progression of the work and updates the client on it; he looks at the updated quotes; he checks the monthly and final costs, he draws up the down payments status; he can look at the documents the construction companies need to provide, he can oversee the work and draw up site meeting reports; if the client has requests after the work is done, he evaluates the value; etc.

72 Md€

estimated total amount of projects overseen by building cost experts each year

48%

estimated total amount of projects overseen by building cost experts each year

UNTEC

The French Building Cost Experts’ National Union (Union nationale des Economistes de la construction or UNTEC) is the only professional organization representing building cost experts. The UNTEC is a union led by elected and volunteer members. Created in 1972 as a trade union (in compliance with a French act from 1884), it was born from the merger of three organizations: the National Federation representing the Quantity Surveyors’ Trade Union, the National Federation of Quantity Surveyor Consultants and Architectural Work Inspectors, and the National Association of Quantity Surveyors. In 1990, the National Trade Union for Expert Quantity Surveyors joined the UNTEC.

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