For Darius Ho, marketing director of Singaporean quantity surveyor company Oliver Ho & Associates, “brand building and cost reduction for the client” has utmost priority.

As the first boutique quantity surveyor of Asia that was founded in 1995, his company focuses on quantity surveying – a best practice that allows property developers to gain full control and overview not only over construction contracts, but more importantly, costs.

Essentially, a quantity surveyor specialises in foreseeing all construction costs within contracts a developer closes with a construction company, and handles the contractual aspect and cost management of the project.

While quantity surveying is widely accepted as a cost, time, and trouble-saving standard service for property developers in mature markets, it has yet to establish itself as a must-use service in Cambodia.

However, Ho, who is the face of Oliver Ho & Associates in Cambodia, said in an interview last week that this was changing. Since the Singaporean market leader in quantity surveying came into the Cambodian market, they have worked with prestigious property developers from Cambodia and multinational companies who have construction interests in the Kingdom.

Ho has observed an uptrend of banks that use Oliver Ho & Associates to assess the progress of construction works done. This in term protects the banks from paying more than what was built.

Looking at their track record in Singapore, Ho has no doubt that his company will become even more successful in Cambodia in the future as the requests for quotations continue to grow.

“As the first boutique quantity surveyor firm in Asia, Oliver Ho & Associates undertakes a wide range of projects that span across various industries, including marine, aerospace, healthcare, residential, education and industrial. We are extremely fortunate and grateful for the reciprocated loyalty of our customers who have taken our business to the next level through positive referrals,” Ho said.

Since its founding 11 years ago, Oliver Ho & Associates has experienced 20 per cent year-on-year growth in the private residential sector, exceeding all expectations, while a steady rise in projects in the healthcare and education sector has spurred on the dynamic growth of the company, said Ho and he added: “We have also increased our involvement in mainstream government projects rapidly with a 30 per cent year-on-year growth in projects with an increase in Cambodian infrastructure.”

Explaining why his company is so successful, Ho said that they pride themselves in delivering the highest standards of service and expertise while inspiring a working relationship that often leads their clients and partners to form lasting friendships on a personal level.

“Oliver Ho & Associates believes in the principles that have made us ‘boutique’. Namely, the art of being customised, personal and exceptional,” Ho said.

Being so well-established and having found their recipe for success, Ho is very optimistic.

“When I think about the outlook for the future, one word comes to mind: positive,” he said, adding, “Having [the company] be a pioneer in the field of quantity surveying since 1995, I am certain that there has not been as exciting a period in this industry as the one we are in right now. With my extremely talented team, strategic partners, a line-up of multi-million dollar projects ahead and a loyal base of past and present customers, the future is extremely bright for Oliver Ho & Associates.”

And one part of the future looks especially bright, in Ho’s opinion. “This year would be a very interesting and busy year. With projects ramping up in Cambodia, we will be expecting an increased interest in quantity surveying in the Indochina market,” he said.