What is a Chartered Surveyor?
A Chartered Surveyor differs from other surveyors in that they meet the standards required by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). RICS is an UK independent professional body which aims to maintain and improve high standards in construction and other areas of surveying, and Chartered Surveyors are surveyors who have been credited the ‘seal of approval’ by RICS.
Chartered Surveyors have a high level of technical ability. Their work is varied between construction, property or land with a huge range of specialisms. Surveyors assess buildings, construction projects and the environment, and oversee development in these areas. With such an important role it only makes sense to hire Chartered Surveyors in Watford and across the UK; you understandably want the best.
Hiring a Chartered Surveyor for a survey will allow you to gain a more technical insight to a building or land. They work with local authorities and give you more well-informed advice than you could find yourself or obtain from other professionals.
Types of Chartered Surveyors in Watford and the UK
For those who are unfamiliar with the different types of surveying, the professional role you are most likely to be familiar with is building surveyors. Building Chartered Surveyors in Watford are often employed by prospective homeowners to assess what repairs or renovations may be required in a building before they place an offer. But building surveying covers a multitude of other areas too. Building surveyors don’t only assess damage or renovations required in every type of building imaginable, from office blocks to historic buildings, but they also oversee ongoing construction projects, whether they are for residential, commercial, industrial, leisure, agricultural or retail purposes.
Surveyors who work in building control differ in that they help in the planning stages. They may be responsible for costing buildings, environmental issues, licensing, energy efficiency and fire insulation. Project management surveyors plan the project once it is ongoing. They aim to maximise safety, time and cost efficiency and reliability of the build, and will use their leadership skills to maximise human resources.
Land surveying assesses environmental issues, management of waste and mineral resources and geometrics (the study of form of the land and seabed). Chartered Surveyors in Watford who specialise in land surveying will also oversee the changes to these areas during the plan and development of an area.
Property surveying involves valuing properties, estates, possessions and business assets.
What should I look for in a Chartered Surveyor?
Once you have worked out which type of surveyor you require, you can begin to contact surveyors. For construction projects your architects should be able to point you in the direction of a reliable surveyor, or even have surveying specialists in their agency.
Ensure that your Chartered Surveyor is a member of RICS. Ask how long they have been a member for and how long they have been practicing surveying.
Don’t request or pay for a survey until you are certain you understand what this will include. For example, your survey could be a partial survey and not structural. Ask your surveyor whether they have experience in a similar project and find out how long it will take for you to be given your report. Ensure that your surveyor has professional liability cover too.
Architects Corporation Ltd are a team of qualified architects and Chartered Surveyors. Their Chartered Surveyors have many years of experience in carrying out building, structural and homebuyer surveys, investigative surveys, party wall surveys, property valuations, and building expert witness cases for property related disputes.
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