Measurement is for Dummies!

Shhhh! Here’s something that we’ve kept secret over the years:

We don’t mind teaching people how to measure properly (if you’re interested that is) to SMM7 standards.

Shocking I know isn’t it!

You see the thing is the more people that know the better the standard will be in the industry for us all.

A bit of an outdated view perhaps?

Well what is the first thing anyone wants when they price a job? A set of quantities, what else would you need? And the thing is it’s getting harder and harder to find people that can do it.

So here’s the deal (I’m sure that’s a line from an advert, and this is one by the way) we recently did a training session for a contractor for his staff on groundworks. We used a sample of a current job they were looking at as the basis of the session.

Result:

They liked it

We liked it

We taught some younger folk the rudimentary elements of taking off, and they also found some mistakes in the tender they were looking at – potentially we saved them a lot of money as a result!

Everyone happy!

It’s my favourite topic at the moment, measurement or the apparent lack of it by the RICS in encouraging it to be taught. If you saw their recent training brochure dated January 2011 there’s absolutely nothing included for it. Unless of course you include (no offence guys) teaching estate agents how to measure gross or net internal floor areas for the sum of £295 per person! Now how on earth are all these new recruits going to know how to do things? Rely on the Universities? But they aren’t teaching it! It’s dreadful…

So for those of you who want a little taster of the sort of thing we can offer, have a look at this link to our website on the basics of how to measure excavation and earthworks – I hope you enjoy it!

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How to manage your business RICS style

How quaint! While all around us people have been re-branding, re-naming, becoming expert Consultants in all sorts of property related matters, and operating under limited liability status in some form or other (because of our dear friends at HMRC) the RICS has produced a document called ‘Practice management guidelines – The management of surveying business’. It’s the quaint expression of “practice management” that got me. Maybe it’s just me, but are we still called practices?! This aside, the point is that the document is a guidance note. Just advice, so they say… But it comes with a health warning! Though it may just be a guidance note, it goes on to say that if you don’t follow their advice and you get a P.I. claim then the RICS will take a dim view of you. And the courts too apparently, so read on…!

The guidelines were first published in 1997, updated in 2003 and have now been updated again in 2010. They’ve even added references to CRM and social media, with LinkedIn getting a special mention. They also have ‘must do’, ‘recommended’ and ‘advisable’ sections, so make sure you’ve read and understood them!

To be fair, it’s a very good read with lots of useful information and tips for any professional in business. They give really good pointers on business management, people management and current legislation too, with references of where to go for further advice if you need it. I really liked the section on practice leadership, leading your management team and the part about understanding your team members and the eight generic types of personalities you might encounter, which they have labelled as follows:

• The independent: prefers to be left alone and often finds it difficult to work with others
• The entrepreneur: highly commercial type who is an excellent networker and deal maker
• The traditionalist: considers the former professional ways are not only still best, but the only way
• The plateaued: reliable and friendly but passed over for promotion and lacking apparent motivation for change
• The former star: great ‘back when’, but living on the memory and reputation of past glories
• The politician: canny operator, but usually on the look out for number one
• The teflon type: difficult to pin down and make accountable
• The ego: has an opinion on everything and is always right (in his or her eyes anyway).

I particularly liked the teflon type who they suggest:  “know all the loopholes and dodges, so involve them in reviewing procedures and contracts.” So if you’ve got one of these that’s the tip on how to deploy them!

What I don’t understand though is why they chose to reproduce the second edition questions as an appendix again?! Confusing. But all in all I really liked it. This an example of good work by the RICS and, in my opinion, some genuinely useful spending of our membership fees.

I actually happened to visit the Great George Street HQ yesterday (see photo). It’s the first time in a year or so I’ve been and I’d forgotten what a lovely old building it is. I used the members room, though it felt a bit deserted… but then it would be wouldn’t it… they’ve sent everyone to Coventry! 😉

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If you would like to read the Practice management guidelines then you can download them here, but sadly only if you are an RICS member! If you are not a member and would still like to take a look then please email me and I will forward you a copy.

APC Tips and Techniques

For those of you about to begin the preparation for your APC interviews in the QS world, I thought I would share a few tips and techniques to help you get through it.

So first of all, don’t think of it as an ordeal – it’s a chance for you to shine and demonstrate to a fellow group of professionals how knowledgeable you are. Be confident; after all, it’s you that everyone is going to be talking about!

• Make sure you have read, re-read and understood your submission.

• If there was any paperwork missing or that’s needed updating since your submission, make sure you have it with you and hand it out at the beginning of the interview.

• Make sure in your record of experience there isn’t anything included that you really don’t have knowledge or experience of. Don’t simply tick off the competency levels and say you have done something. Chances are you will get asked about it and, if you can’t answer, or try and bluff your way out of it, it will be on the list of issues making you a referral.

• Always try and leave hooks in your submission that will leave an Assessor wanting to ask you more about what you’ve done. Make it a bit intriguing for them. That way you can demonstrate your knowledge to them!

• Practice your 10 minute presentation over and over again. Use a mirror to talk to, use your colleagues or, if you can afford it, attend a course.

• During your presentation, speak slowly and clearly and don’t try and cram in everything from your critical analysis, as it will be far too much. Keep it simple and straightforward to understand. Just pick one aspect but describe it in good detail.

• Don’t take electronic aids, laptops or anything like that: The rooms are so very small and technology just doesn’t add to this type of presentation. Stick with paper charts and graphical aids.

• Remember this is an assessment of you, your skills and experience, so the assessors are trained to ask you about what you have done.

• If you are asked a question that you don’t know the answer to then say you don’t know, but show initiative by giving an answer about how you would find things out to give the answer. You can’t know everything there is to know about Quantity Surveying, and the Assessors are aware of that.

• Equally, if you are asked a question that you do know the answer to, then don’t rush and answer straight away. Take your time and lead the panel through your  answer (it uses up valuable time that could mean you don’t get asked that awkward question you don’t know the answer to!)

• The last part of the interview will be the chairman asking you questions about the RICS, its code of conduct and ethics. Be aware that if you get any of these types of questions wrong (which will be largely all theoretical) then chances are you will get referred. So don’t treat this part of your learning lightly.

• If an answer to something comes to you that you hadn’t been able to answer fully at the time during the interview, go back to it at the end, the chairman will give you that opportunity.

Prepare, prepare, prepare is the key to success. As a very good friend of mine always quoted to me: To fail to prepare, is to prepare to fail.

Useful Links:

APC home page on the RICS website

APC requirements and competencies guide

Quantity Surveying and Construction Pathway Guide

APC mock interviews

Final Assessment DVD – An in-depth look at the RICS Final Assessment

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Derek Mynott is Managing Director at G F Partnership and has over 30 years experience in the construction industry. In addition to this, he has been supervising and counselling Quantity Surveyors through their RICS APC since 1999.

Does your measurement come up to size?

Are you happy with your measurement?

I met a good friend of mine recently Jon Lever who is very actively involved with the RICS APC process and runs a very efficient business helping guys gain their MRICS status.

Now we were talking recently after he held one of his RICS surgeries at our offices about the lack of measurment being taught in the industry; and we both think that more could be done about this.

So instead of sitting around and doing nothing about it we came up with the idea that we should do something, the thing is what? Our idea is that we would like to help people who want to know more about measurement and how to do things (dare I say) properly. You may have little time, only want to learn about one particular aspect, already be qualified and want to brush up on something, or just generally interested in improving your skills.

We therefore plan to produce a series of cost effective ways that can take you through all aspects of measurement. The way in which we do that will be dictated by you.

If that’s something you think you’d be interested in (or just want to send me a comment) please contact me, as I’d be interested to hear from you. Either post a reply to this, send me an email derek.mynott@gf-partnership.co.uk , tweet me on @gfpartnership, contact me via facebook, or message me on LinkedIn.

Or you could just call ….

Better still complete this on line survey Jon and I are running and we can tailor our idea to suit your specific needs.