How to find the right property surveyor

Buying a property is filled with excitement and dread in equal measure. After all, it’s likely to be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make.

So before you choose the colour of your new blinds or whether the garage can be converted into a home office, it’s best to get a HomeBuyers survey. Here’s how to find the right property surveyor for your next move.

Is your property surveyor local?

Wherever your potential new home might be, it’s wise to find a surveyor who’s familiar with the local area. Why? Because no two areas are the same.

Geology, population mix, building stock, and urban planning policy will all be different. For example, our surveyors know Brighton and Hove like the back of their hands. A surveyor from outside the city might struggle to say the same.

Is your property surveyor RICS qualified?

The second thing to look for when choosing a surveyor is whether they are members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Membership is only granted to those who have attained a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of building and construction. It also demands an ongoing professionalism and adherence to the Institution’s guiding principles.

If you’re not sure whether a surveyor is qualified, go and check them out on the RICS website ‘Find a Member’ section.

Is your property surveyor experienced?

There are many different branches to the surveying profession, all of which are overseen by RICS.

Every RICS surveyor will have a broad knowledge of all aspects of surveying, but most of their work will focus on their speciality subjects. So, it is important to make sure your surveyor has the appropriate expertise and experience for your needs.

The different sub-disciplines include:

• Building – assessing structural condition of residential properties
• Land/boundary – mapping, topography and boundary disputes
• Commercial property – managing, leasing and valuing buildings
• Rural – agricultural sector land and buildings
• Project management – managing reinstatment projects
• Valuation – for various purposes (sale, mortgage, insurance, probate, capital gains)
• Planning and development – land use, planning applications, property development

Due to the wide spectrum of specialisms, it’s important to find a surveyor who’s right for your bespoke project. If you need any guidance with your search, feel free to get in touch.

Is your property surveyor easy to deal with?

Your initial contact with a surveyor may well have been by email. Did you get a prompt response? Was that response to the point, courteous and professional sounding?

When speaking on the phone or in person, did they take time to explain (in words you could understand) exactly what they would and would not do?

It might sound like standard customer service you’d expect from any business. But purchasing a property is stressful at the best of times, and the last thing you need is chasing surveyors for reports or dealing with unnecessary technobabble.

With that said, it’s always a good idea to check out reviews. Nothing will give you better judgement on a surveyor than the voice of the customer.

Finally, have you checked your property surveyor’s pricing?

Get prices for the service you require from at least three suitable, local surveyors. Prices will vary and possibly the specification too.

While it’s tempting to go with the cheapest, it can often cost you more in the long run. For that reason, use pricing as part of your decision process, but not the ultimate deciding factor.

After all, you’re making a huge investment which deserves the best attention for the job. That’s where we can help.