What does a chartered surveyor do and when might you need one?
WHAT DOES A CHARTERED SURVEYOR DO?
Chartered surveyors are qualified professionals in property and building consultancy. Typical work may involve valuing properties and undertaking structural surveys of buildings, to produce homebuyer surveys and valuation reports.
Chartered surveyors also provide consultancy advice in property and construction.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A HOMEBUYER SURVEY?
A prospective purchaser can commission a surveyor to produce a homebuyer survey before exchange of contracts. This is an in-depth report where a surveyor inspects the visible areas in a property to report on its condition and highlight potential defects.
The survey may highlight serious work that needs to be addressed before the exchange of contracts.
The big issues that people are concerned about are damp and subsidence. Therefore, I would use a moisture meter to detect any signs of damp and assess any cracking to see if it is structural in nature.
The homebuyer survey can provide prospective purchasers with an opportunity to renegotiate the purchase price and save money — maybe thousands of pounds.
WHY SHOULD I COMMISSION A CHARTERED SURVEYOR FOR A VALUATION?
Prospective purchasers can also commission a surveyor to produce a valuation report at the same time as a homebuyer survey, before exchange of contracts.
One of the key benefits of using a chartered surveyor specifically is that they are impartial and do not work on commission. This means that the surveyor will take an unbiased view on the property value.
Again, if a surveyor’s valuation is lower than the agreed purchase price, it may provide prospective purchasers with an opportunity to renegotiate the sale price.
HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE A CHARTERED SURVEYOR?
Firstly, due diligence is key. Your surveyor should be regulated by the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). This ensures that they are an experienced professional who can offer high quality, independent advice and that they adhere to strict rules of conduct.
Your surveyor should have an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance in place, too. They should also have a complaints-handling procedure and provide terms and conditions detailing what they will/will not cover as part of their work.
All properties vary by area and so it is essential that your chosen surveyor has locally relevant experience.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A CHARTERED SURVEYOR?
My work is incredibly varied; no two properties or days are the same, each bringing a new challenge.
Moving home can be one of life’s most stressful events but I enjoy helping people avoid the pitfalls of purchasing a home or investment property.
I also volunteer as an RICS mentor to surveying candidates hoping to sit their APC (Assessment of Professional Competence). It’s great to be able to give back and support future surveyors in their careers.
When I am not delivering homebuyer surveys and valuation reports, I provide consultancy advice on residential investment and development too.
Both volunteering and consultancy provide continuous personal development, further enhancing my knowledge and skills as an MRICS-accredited professional.
Jamie Cohen is a chartered surveyor with more than 15 years of experience in residential property.
He specialises in residential consultancy, homebuyer surveys and valuation reports for a variety of purposes.
This includes development consultancy, market valuations, probate valuations, matrimonial dispute valuations and help to buy valuations.
He practises in north London and Hertfordshire. Jamie@templewhite.co.uk
07940 079453