The Role

• Undertaking on-site property surveys
• Producing detailed reports and recommendations
• Identifying defects and advising on remedial works
• Offering advice on proposed alterations, improvements and extensions
• Preparing budgets and schedules
• Advising on environmental and safety issues
• Meeting with clients and contractors to oversee progress
• Offer advice in relation to legal and planning issues
• A typical working week usually involves working standard office hours, Monday-Friday. But there may be times where you'll need to work late in order to meet project deadlines.

Salary

• Newly trained building surveyors can earn in the region of £18,000-£22,000
• Trained with experience building surveyors can earn in the region of £23,000-£38,000
• Senior, chartered or master building surveyors can earn in the region of £50,000-£70,000

Salaries typically depend on location, employer and level of responsibility. Salaries and career options improve with chartered status. 

Qualifications and Training

Building surveying is open to graduates of all subjects.

A degree in a related field such as geography, property or construction, especially one accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Association of Building Engineers (ABE), will prove advantageous when job hunting.

Non-cognates and non-accredited graduates must take an accredited conversion course to top up their qualifications and gain a sector-specific understanding.

Most surveyors choose to continue their professional development to chartered status with one of the professional bodies – usually RICS – who set the qualification criteria. "Chartered surveyor" is a globally recognised qualification which opens up opportunities abroad, and can lead to greater responsibility and higher salaries.