Quantity Surveyor Interview Questions

A construction contract is a legal agreement between the project owner and the contractor, outlining the scope of work, timeline, budget, payment terms, and other project details.

Explore the main types of construction contracts, including lump sum and time and material. Understand measure and value contracts, cost plus, cost reimbursement, prime cost, and value remeasurement.

Explain how a lump-sum fixed-price contract binds the contractor to complete work for a fixed price, ideal when the scope is well defined and the owner limits financial risk.

Explain the miserable contract as a construction contract paying the contractor for actual work based on material and labor quantities, contrasted with a reimbursable contract.

Explain time and material contracts, where the owner pays actual costs plus a fixed hourly rate for labor and material markup, useful when scope is uncertain or project is lengthy.

Explore design and build contracts, explaining how the contractor is responsible for both design and construction, effectively acting as consultant plus contractor.

Explore how progress payments work in construction, defined as payments by the client to the contractor based on the percentage of work completed and the value of work done.

Explain what a change order is: a written document that modifies construction contract terms, including scope, schedule, and payment terms.

Identify the essential elements of a contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, and the intention to create a legal relationship.

Explore the concept of consideration in a contract, where the exchange of value, such as money or goods, constitutes a necessary element that makes the agreement legally binding.

Explain what constitutes a breach of contract when either party fails to fulfil obligations, such as not paying or not delivering goods or services as agreed.

Identify remedies for breach of contract, including damages, specific performance, and contract termination; emphasize termination and the role of a performance bond.

Explain what constitutes a breach of a construction contract, listing failures like delays, quality shortfalls, permits, payments, safety, or site maintenance, and outline remedies such as damages or termination.

Review the contract to identify breach terms, notify the other party with specifics and a remedy timeline, and consult a construction law professional before negotiating, mediating, or arbitrating dispute resolution.

Explain what a construction contract is and what it includes, detailing a legally binding agreement with project description, specification plans, scope of work, responsibilities, timelines, payment terms, and dispute resolution.

Explore common construction contracts, including lump sum, cost plus time and materials, and unit price contracts, and compare their advantages and disadvantages to select the right type for a project.

Identify when change orders arise from design changes, unforeseen site conditions, or owner modification requests, and their impact on the project timeline and budget.

Explain a dispute resolution clause as a provision in a construction contract that outlines methods to resolve disputes, such as mediation, arbitration, or litigation, to avoid costly, time-consuming battles.

Explore managing delays in construction projects through liquidated damages and extension of time, using force majeure for unforeseen events, while documenting changes and maintaining communication.

Defines the project manager's role in construction, overseeing planning, design, construction to deliver on time, within budget, meeting quality standards, while coordinating with owners, contractors, and subcontractors to manage risks.

Define the role of a quantity surveyor in a construction contract and explain how they estimate and manage project costs, administer contracts, manage risk, and ensure quality.