A Day in the Life of a Residential Surveyor at White Horse Surveyors
If you are considering a career in residential surveying, or are simply unfamiliar with the profession, you may be wondering what kind of tasks are involved in the day-to-day lives of these property experts. As an independent party, a surveyor is tasked with providing unbiased and professional instructions on a broad range of property-related concerns. To assist with the details, we decided to speak with our Senior Technical Manager here at White Horse Surveyors. Using his decades of experience as a fully qualified Chartered Building Surveyor and Registered Valuer, he told us all about the profession and the kinds of daily responsibilities that are undertaken.
How did you become a residential surveyor?
I was working in the construction industry for a medium-sized contractor and had gained ONC and HNC qualifications in Quantity surveying. I then went to work for a private practice of Chartered Surveyors and embarked upon part 1 of the RICS examinations, followed by Parts 2 and 3 in consecutive years. During the 4th year, I submitted a case study on a job I was involved in and passed, becoming a Chartered Building Surveyor. The current route of entry is to do a degree.
What made you interested in residential surveying as a career?
I have always enjoyed construction, defect analysis and property transactions, it was a profession which involved site work and I wouldn’t be stuck in an office.
What is involved during a typical day?
I leave the house early to get my first appointment, followed by maybe 4 or 5 more if Mortgage valuations. If I am doing a Building Survey or a Homebuyers report I would be doing 1 or 2. Following the completion of the inspections, I return home and complete the reports which have been inputted on my i-Pad, check the resultant report and lender guidance, obtain the comparable evidence for the value and submit.
What is rewarding about the job?
Advising the lender or purchaser correctly and ensuring a smooth transaction process is achieved for all parties.
What is challenging?
It can be a challenge sometimes to find suitable sold house comparable in areas where the market may be static. Travelling these days can be slow if roadworks or accidents occur – there is usually a way to circumvent these issues if I determine to do so.
What ways can a residential surveyor develop their career?
Broadening one’s experience may be possible in larger companies where the various facts of our profession are undertaken, additional qualifications can be obtained and there are excellent courses available to improve the scope and breadth of one’s knowledge.
What is something that not many people would know about residential surveying?
An inspection of a property for your house purchase is to advise the lender on its suitability as security for a normal mortgage advance. A purchaser should engage a Surveyor to undertake a Homebuyer or Building Survey report, to understand the condition of the property prior to completing the purchase. Quite often re-negotiation of the purchase price can be made when all the facts upon the condition, required repairs and short comings are known, thus making the cost of the inspection fee more than worthwhile.
White Horse Surveyors currently have a range of residential surveyor vacancies across the United Kingdom, which can be found here.
White Horse Surveyors are the UK’s largest independent, residential surveying company. Originally established in 2006, our wide network of RICS regulated surveyors now service much of England, Scotland and Wales. Our products include RICS Homebuyer Reports, RICS Building Surveys, Private Valuations and Home Reports for Scottish Property.
