If you are buying a property, you need to ensure that it is in a condition that warrants its valuation. For this, you need an RICS surveyor. An RICS surveyor is a professional who assesses a property's structural integrity and provides a valuation for it. The types of surveys and services they provide depend on the kind of information you are looking for.
Because of the crucial role they play, hiring the right RICS surveyor in Norfolk is one of the most important decisions you can make when purchasing property. In this guide, we walk you through what you need to know and consider when choosing one.
Start with an Online Search
The best place to start is online, where you can find surveyors who will provide the exact services you are looking for. This is an initial selection stage, at the end of which you should have a list of surveyors you think would be a good fit.
Consider Their Qualifications
Once you have a list of surveyors, you should ensure they have the right qualifications. The easiest way to do this is to check that they are a qualified member of and registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Qualified surveyors abide by a code of conduct and have professional indemnity insurance in case something goes wrong. Also, you can contact the RICS if you have an issue or complaint about the surveyor or the services they have offered.
Ensure They are a Local Surveyor
It is also important to ensure that the RICS surveyors you are considering are local. A local RICS surveyor, such as an RICS surveyor in Norfolk, has experience with the property in your area and understands the neighbourhood and its history. For this reason, they can give a better valuation and know what problems and issues to look out for.
Also, the surveyor knows people in the area who can help with issues like repairs and renovations if you decide to buy a property that needs some work.
Check for References and Reviews
These days, there is a review website for almost anything. That applies to different professionals, including RICS surveyors. You can find websites that post reviews and ratings about different surveyors, and you are supposed to use the information to find out whether the surveyor you are considering would be the right fit.
In some cases, you will find websites where people discuss surveyors without giving ratings. Here, you can read through the reviews and gauge the overall sentiment surrounding a particular surveyor. You can tell a lot about them from the words people use when describing and discussing them.
Ask for Free Quotes and Timescales
It is also a good idea to ask for quotes from the surveyors you like the most. You should obtain multiple quotes to not only understand what the services you need cost but also to do some comparative selection. Lastly, ask about these timescales. This includes how long you have to wait for their services as well as the results of the survey or valuation.
Hiring the right RICS surveyor is a crucial step when buying a home. They will ensure you know the state of the property and the correct valuation. The surveyor will also tell you about any potential issues you should know about and what you will need to take care of should you buy the property in the state it is in.