In this article, we explore helpful tips on selecting the appropriate chartered surveyor for your project, from understanding the qualifications and expertise of a chartered surveyor, to finding the right surveyor for your needs and maintaining a successful relationship in the long run.
What is a Chartered Surveyor and what do they do?
A Chartered Surveyor is a professional who specializes in a wide range of services related to land and buildings. Their expertise encompasses both the practical application of surveying and property valuation.
By surveying properties, a Chartered Surveyor can provide accurate information about site measurements, utilities, and structures, as well as draw up construction plans and estimates of costs.
They have extensive knowledge in a variety of areas, such as property law, construction, building regulations, and financial regulations. One of their main functions is to produce a detailed and comprehensive survey and valuation reports of the property, which can be used in mortgage applications or for other purposes.
Chartered Surveyors are highly respected and often provide advice to property buyers and developers on various legal and financial aspects of the property, such as boundary disputes, contracts, rights of way, party walls and valuation.
Furthermore, they can help with a variety of specialist services, including environmental surveys, heritage searches and flood risk assessments.
Benefits of Using a Chartered Surveyor
When looking to purchase property, it pays to hire a Chartered Surveyor to ensure you make the right property decision. Chartered Surveyors have a wealth of knowledge and experience, enabling them to provide a service that is second to none.
They can provide insight and advice on every aspect of a property, from structural integrity to defects to legal issues and valuation.
Choosing to use a Chartered Surveyor also provides peace of mind, as they can spot potential issues at a property before they become a serious problem. Moreover, they can provide immediate advice on the most cost-effective solutions and can assist in negotiations between parties involved in the purchase.
Having the correct survey provides peace of mind when buying a property, as any potential financial losses can be avoided with the right advice and information.
A Chartered Surveyor can also be invaluable when selling a property, as they can advise you on what improvements need to be made prior to the sale and help ensure the sale goes through without any legal or financial issues arising.
Understanding Qualifications of a Chartered Surveyor
The qualifications required to become a Chartered Surveyor will vary from country to country, with largely different programs and bodies that accredit and develop Chartered Surveyors.
Generally, those within the UK will need to have obtained an accredited RICS degree from an accredited college or university and have passed their APC (Assessment of Professional Competence). This will confirm their competency in the field and also allows them access to RICS-associated professional networks.
Additionally, they will need a minimum of 2 years of approved professional experience in the chartered surveying field, as well as passing professional written or online exams. Overall, the qualifications in order to become a Chartered Surveyor are extremely rigorous and those who have obtained Chartered Surveyor status are highly respected within the surveying industry.
There are three RICS membership grades AssocRICS (associate), MRICS (member) and FRICS (fellow).
Finding the Right Surveyor
When looking for a chartered surveyor, it’s important to consider the experience and qualifications of the professional you are considering. Finding a surveyor through a reputable firm with a long track record of successful and satisfied clients is a great place to start.
Additionally, you should find out which industry qualifications and credentials they hold, such as RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) accreditation and certifications. This will help you ascertain the credibility of the surveyor, as well as how up-to-date their knowledge is.
Another thing to consider when selecting a chartered surveyor is the breadth of services they have on offer. Is your project time sensitive? Are you looking for advice on the potential for development? Capacity and specialisms vary from surveyor to surveyor. You should check that the services you need can be provided by the surveyor you’ve chosen – be sure to ask for specifics, such as building surveys, boundary disputes, land surveys or valuations.
Furthermore, when searching for a surveyor you should ask for cost estimates and quotes for specific services. Be sure to place importance on quality, cost, timeliness and communications when making your decision.
Lastly, you should also think about whether you’d prefer to work with a local business or a company that covers large parts of the country. Ultimately, it’s important to take your time researching and assessing different surveyors before committing to one.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve chosen a chartered surveyor and secured the services of your choice, there are certain steps you should take to ensure that your relationship remains healthy in the long run. First, be clear and communicative with your surveyor about your expectations and objectives.
Having an open dialogue will give the surveyor an idea of what you expect from them and what you would like to achieve. To ensure that the surveyor is performing their services professionally and to an acceptable standard, routinely review their work, ask for feedback and, if necessary, extend their scope of work.
This will ensure that your objectives are met and give you the peace of mind that your surveyor is performing as expected. In addition, using an appropriate contract, agree to payment terms and provisions in writing with your surveyor. This will help to formalise the agreement, hold your surveyor accountable and minimise the potential for disagreements.
Having this in place will also give you legal protection and provide recourse should the surveyor fall short of expectations.
Ultimately, remaining informed, communicating expectations and having clear terms of the agreement are steps that will help maintain a healthy relationship between you and your surveyor, and ensure that the work is professionally carried out to your satisfaction.
