Editorial

Nothing is worse than buying a product or service that doesn’t live up to expectations be it size, value for money, performance or quality. The same applies to construction projects – whether the investment is several million or just a few hundred dollars, if the finished goods don’t live up to the promises, it’s a disappointing outcome for all concerned, and an expensive exercise to remedy in the long term.

With growing families, several of our friends bought new, larger properties in the far eastern suburbs of Auckland, all built in the 1990s. We were tempted at the time too, but stuck with our ex-state house and decided to renovate instead. About half of these friends are now ruing the decision to move – most of their homes have leaks of varying degrees, one is wholly rotten and will probably have to be demolished, and another is shedding its outer cladding at an alarming rate. For everyone concerned, it’s a heart-wrenching time – the remedial costs are massive, and for many it means the end of their dreams of early retirement.

So how can those charged with managing our larger infrastructure projects ensure that the results are as per expectations? One way is to employ the services of a quantity surveyor. Late last year I met with James White from Kwanto, a ‘new kid on the block’ within this specialised industry. I asked if he’d be bringing his theodolite to the meeting. “Don’t confuse us with land surveyors,” James laughed.

“Our profession is not well understood, even within the industry,” he added. “I’m more of a ‘construction accountant’. Building projects are often about dreams, and costs can get away on you, without careful management. Because we’re trained in construction methods and costs, a quantity surveyor can ‘talk the talk’ with the wider project team to ensure there are no nasty surprises at the end of a project.”

You can read James’ interesting article on his profession on page 12.

What brought about these thoughts on products meeting expectations? Just this morning we were sent some samples of Mrs Mac’s limited edition ‘Big Minced Beef and Cheese’ pies. Not really knowing quite what to expect after the company rep rang to arrange delivery, the office door opened at 11 a.m. and this amazing smell announced the arrival of the pies.

Did they meet our expectations regarding size, value for money, performance and quality? Exceeded them, more like

Until next time ...

Lynne Richardson Editor