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05 Sep, 2016/ by Surveyor Local /News

Everyone seems to be talking about RICS surveyors and how important it is to have one - but what actually is RICS? And what is so important about it? Don't worry, though, we've got all the answers right here…

So first, what exactly is RICS?

RICS stands for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It is the international body who regulate and train chartered surveyors and other property professionals across many countries.

RICS was established all the way back in 1792 and has been maintaining high quality surveying and other property related services for more than 200 years - proof of its success!

Why is RICS necessary?

Surveying may not seem like a glamorous job, but it is vitally important for everyone's safety. If our surveyors don't do their jobs properly, we end up living and working in and around potentially unsafe buildings, not to mention the money that could be lost through buying and selling unsound property.

Why do I need a RICS surveyor?

The benefit of choosing a RICS surveyor is that they will have complied with the “RICS Rules of Conduct” which consists of a set of strict rules and regulations. This prevents them from performing less than standard work and means that you get exactly what you pay for - an in-depth and precise quality survey.

What about the cost?

Like anything in life, you get what you pay for and a RICS surveyor may cost a little more than a non-regulated surveyor, but in the long run it is well worth the extra money.

While we recommend RICS, there are other regulatory bodies too including the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA), The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) and the SAVA HCS Scheme.

Of course a surveyor who is with RICS or one of these other regulatory bodies will be slightly more expensive, but you pay for the guarantee of good work. A non-regulated surveyor has no one to hold them accountable, meaning they can do as they please and there's not much you can do about it!

At the worse end of this, you could end up with a survey that misses a huge structural problem like subsidence and find that your new property is worth a fraction of what you paid, or needs thousands spending on it - leaving you wishing you had paid for a regulated surveyor in the first place!

What happens if my RICS surveyor does a bad job?

If you're unhappy about the work that your RICS surveyor has carried out, you can complain to RICS. RICS is a UK regulatory body and so is responsible for investigating complaints and settling disputes. This is unlikely, though, as the requirements for becoming a RICS regulated surveyor in the first place are set high - meaning you have to be a pretty good surveyor with very high standards to pass.

Where can I find a RICS surveyor?

Well, right here! All the surveyors we work with are RICS regulated, fully qualified and reputable. But if you want to look elsewhere there are plenty around. In fact, there are something like 140,000 RICS members operating in 146 countries, so there's no excuse not to go with one!

Give us a call on to discuss our RICS surveyors or apply for a free no-obligation quote here.

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