The Library

Every stage. Every topic. One reference.

95 structured guidance notes covering the complete QS project lifecycle — from pre-appointment through final account and post-occupancy. Plain English, RICS-aligned, and mapped to the APC competency framework.

95
Guidance Notes
11
Project Stages
RICS
Aligned Content
APC
Competency Mapped
Press /
00

Pre-Appointment 16 GNs

Conflicts of interest, ethics, AML, scope of services, fee proposals, PII, liability, client money, complaints handling, and regulatory governance. Everything before you take on an appointment.

RIBA Stage 0 · Pre-Project
01

Feasibility & Order of Cost Estimate 8 GNs

Order of cost estimates, feasibility appraisals, cost modelling, and benchmarking. How to give clients the financial intelligence they need at the earliest stage of a project.

RIBA Stage 1 · NRM1 Aligned
02

Concept Design & Formal Cost Plan 1 6 GNs

Preparing Formal Cost Plan 1, elemental cost planning, design cost management, and cost reporting at concept stage. The foundation of your cost control strategy.

RIBA Stage 2 · NRM1 Aligned
03

Spatial Coordination & Formal Cost Plan 2 7 GNs

Formal Cost Plan 2, design development cost control, value engineering, and spatial coordination cost implications. Keeping the budget under control as design develops.

RIBA Stage 3 · NRM1 Aligned
04

Technical Design, Pre-Tender & Procurement 15 GNs

Formal Cost Plan 3, tender documentation, procurement strategy, contract selection, and pre-tender estimates. Getting the project to market correctly.

RIBA Stage 4 · NRM2 Aligned
05

Construction & Post-Contract Administration 7 GNs

Contract administration, interim valuations, variations, site instructions, cash flow, and cost reporting during construction. The practical reality of post-contract QS work.

RIBA Stage 5 · JCT / NEC Aligned
06

Completion & Final Account 11 GNs

Practical completion, defects schedules, final account preparation, settlement, and close-out reporting. How to bring a project to a clean, documented conclusion.

RIBA Stage 6
07

Defects Liability & Post-Occupancy 6 GNs

Defects liability period, retention release, post-occupancy evaluation, and lessons learned reporting. The often-overlooked obligations after practical completion.

RIBA Stage 6–7
08

Dispute & Claims 7 GNs

Dispute avoidance, claims preparation, extensions of time, loss and expense, adjudication, and alternative dispute resolution. Protecting your client's position when things go wrong.

Claims · ADR · Adjudication
09

APC & CPD Reference 7 GNs

APC competency guidance, structured CPD planning, and reference material for RICS candidates. How to register, what to expect, and how to structure your assessment journey.

RICS APC · CPD
10

Other References 5 GNs

ISO quality management, internal audit, RICS firm regulation, and other cross-cutting references that span the project lifecycle.

ISO · Audit · Firm Regulation