Find a Surveyor you can trust in Belfast.

Basically, a chartered surveyor is a building surveyor who inspects a property for faults or defects as well as future issues or problems. They’re also able to work out the value of a property and also prepare a report in order to help you determine whether or not the property is a good investment or if there are any issues that may create problems later in the future such as damp, structural issues and the likes. In order to become chartered surveyor, a surveyor will need to undergo additional qualifications and possess a specific level of experience which is RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) approved. It’s possible that some surveyors may not have pass through these additional levels to become chartered, however it’ll still be regulated by RICS and be fully qualified. These can be termed as Assoc RICS, associates or building surveyors. While you don’t necessarily have to use a chartered surveyor for your survey, it’s highly advisable to use RICS approved experts.

Just like any other building surveyor, chartered surveyors work by visiting the property, assessing various areas while also determining any defects on site. Once done, they’ll then state all findings in a report for you to help you make the best possible informed decision, whether or not you’ll want to go ahead with the purchase or re-negotiate the terms of the purchase based on the findings in the report. 

You’ll need to hire the services of a chartered surveyor after you’ve made an initial offer on the property and it has been accepted. Most offers are made “subject to survey”, in order words, the seller is well aware that if the survey reveals something unexpected, you can decide to back of the agreement or request a reduction in price.

Quantity surveyors are professionals trained in the management of all costs that’s associated with building and civil engineering projects. Typically, their works is both site and office-based with the main goal of minimizing expenses and also to keep them within the set limits of a budget. What’s more? They aim to achieve all these without having to compromise on the quality of the outcomes and while also complying with the building, health as well as safety regulations. Quantity surveyors also take part in projects and work hand in hand with clients or contractors right from the start - preparing detailed project estimates. They also work to gather tender and contract documentation, carry out feasibility studies and see to the implementation of risk control. Upon the commencement of a building project, quantity surveyors carefully monitors any variations which may result in cost fluctuations.

Quantity surveyors will, over the course of the project, undertake key tasks such as outcome analysis, work evaluation as well as progress reports. However, it’s also very common for surveyors to carry on extra responsibilities which includes allocation works to subcontractors, ordering of construction materials as well as seeing to the arrangement of payments. Generally, the list of what they can handle can be limitless, it all depends on the project as well as the employer.

From the above, you may presume that quantity surveyors are only involved in large construction projects, but this is actually not the case. Asides working with local authorities, commercial businesses, consultancies as well as property developers, quantity surveyors also offer their services to both residential clients and small business owners. They’re very flexible and can capitalize on many different services like providing an initial maintenance schedule for Strata managers and more.

If you wish to work as a quantity surveyor or perhaps you’re just looking to hire one, then one of the first things that comes to mind is the qualifications to look out for. To work as a quantity surveyor, you’ll normally require a degree in quantity surveying or commercial management which is accredited by the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). However, in the event whereby your degree as an undergraduate happens to be in a different subject, there’s still a chance for you to become a qualified quantity surveyor. To achieve this, all you need do is to take a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors accredited post graduate conversion course. Degrees that this applies to includes the following: Economics, building or construction, geography, civil or structural engineering, mathematics, project management ( construction) as well as urban and land studies.

Typically, the post graduate course will take about a year to complete ( on a full time basis), whereas it takes about 2 years on a part time basis. What’s more? There are some employers that will recruit some graduates as “non-cognates ( meaning those with a non RICS accredited degrees ) and support them financially through the accredited post graduate course. Furthermore, you can as well take a RICS accredited degree apprenticeship whether undergraduate, PGDip or Masters, in quantity surveying as well as project management that combines work with part time study at a university.

However, if you’re without a degree, there’s still an option. Simply start work as a technical surveyor ( also referred to as surveying technician ) and then apply for a part time study while working to qualify as a quantity surveyor.

A Structural Engineer is quite likely to be a participant of the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) or a registered member of IStructE (Institution of Structural Engineers) and also will probably have after his or her name the letters MIStructE, FIStructE, MICE or FICE. Structural Engineers with these letters after their names are referred to as Chartered Engineers.

It is usually encouraged that you involve the services of a Chartered Engineer as opposed to an Engineer that is not chartered but it should be noted that there are some Engineers with significant experience who are not chartered. The choice is yours.

Common reasons you may need a structural engineering inspection are

1. Bowing/cracked foundation
2. Settlement or wall cracks
3. To remove a wall in a remodel
4. Add solar panels to a roof
5. Add a second story to a home

Generally, you wouldn’t need to get in touch with a quantity surveyor prior to purchasing a property, unless of course your property is a very unique and unusual one. After making a commitment to buying a property or to kick start a construction project, then you might want to start taking into consideration getting in touch with a quantity surveyor. The best time for a quantity surveyor to carry out an inspection of the property is right after settlement and just before the tenants moving in. This is to ensure that the quantity surveyors do not disturb the tenant and they also get to fully go through what you’ve purchased as well as the condition it’s in.

Quantity surveyors will help you by working with architects, accountants, engineers, building owners, builders, developers, financiers, government, insurance underwriters, loss adjusters, sub contractors as well as solicitors. What’s more? The in depth knowledge quantity surveyors possesses when it comes to construction costs enables them to carry out a number of useful tasks to help you.

Prior to construction, quantity surveyors can prepare a feasibility study, estimate to defined the project budgets, carry out an analysis to refine the budget as the design documents develop, prepare Bill of Quantities so as to help with the tender process and also to carry out a review of Builder’s tender submissions. While the construction is ongoing, they can help provide cost control services, carry out an assessment of the builder’s progress claims and also undertake an assessment of variation and delay claims. Finally, after the construction, they can assist with the determination of the final project cost, prepare the tax depreciation reports for both investors as well as property owners and also prepare Expert Witness reports to assist in the settlement of building disputes.

Generally, quantity surveyors are tasked with the calculation as well as management of the costs relating to projects, starting with assisting with the initial estimates to finalizing the overall requirements of the budget. Normally, they work in land management, property as well as construction industries. Quantity surveyors are usually engaged at the start of a project, consulted and brought in to take a look at a planned construction’s feasibility or repair needs, they then subsequently supervise the remaining activities during the capital expenditure phases of the project development.

Quantity surveyors will help you by working with architects, accountants, engineers, building owners, builders, developers, financiers, government, insurance underwriters, loss adjusters, sub contractors as well as solicitors. The extensive knowledge they possess about the costs related to construction allows them to undertake a number of meaningful tasks to assist you with your project.

Before the construction work commences, quantity surveyors can help with the following:

• Preparation of a feasibility study
• Estimation to define the project budgets
• Carry out an analysis to refine the budget as the design documents develop
• Preparation Bill of Quantities so as to help with the tender process and also to carry out a review of Builder’s tender submissions.

During the construction process, quantity surveyors provide the following services:

• They can help provide cost control services
• Carry out an assessment of the builder’s progress claims
• Carry out an assessment of variation and delay claims.

Finally, after completion of the construction project, quantity surveyors can assist with the following:

• Determination of the final project cost
• Preparation the tax depreciation reports for both investors as well as property owners and;
• Preparation Expert Witness reports to assist in the settlement of building disputes.

With all the aforementioned responsibilities of quantity surveyors, you may be tempted to think that they’re only involved in large construction projects, but this is totally wrong. Quantity surveyors are able to offer their services to both residential clients and small business owners, asides from working with local authorities, commercial businesses, consultancies as well as property developers.