General Practice Surveyor
What is the work like?
General practice surveyors work in with the management, valuation, buying, selling and development of land and property.
As a general practice surveyor, you could work in either the private or public sectors. Your tasks would typically include:
- negotiating deals connected with buying, selling and renting property
- acting as an agent, buying and selling property and land on behalf of clients
- assessing environmental impact and economic viability of development
- valuing land and property
- compiling reports for purposes such as valuation for mortgages, rent reviews and investment potential
- advising on property values, land purchase, tenure issues and related legislation.
- development – working with other professionals such as town planners, architects, and highways and structural engineers to consider new developments and their financial implications
- management – managing property on behalf of a landlord, collecting rents, dealing with maintenance and repair and ensuring compliance with tenancy agreements
- investment – advising clients on buying and selling individual investments or managing large property portfolios
- Valuation Office Agency work – valuing property on behalf of the Government, local authorities and public bodies for business rates, capital taxation, acquisition and disposal.
Some estate agents are qualified surveyors. See the Estate Agent profile for more details of this career.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You could qualify as a general practice surveyor in either of the following ways:
- degree route – complete a degree in a relevant subject such as surveying, estate management, building or construction, followed by professional development, or
- work-based route – start as a trainee surveyor and study for qualifications whilst working.
Degree route
Most general practice surveyors have a degree recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). If your degree is not in a relevant subject, you could take a postgraduate course in surveying. See the RICS website for a list of accredited degree and post-graduate courses.
If you are working in engineering or construction, you could take a distance learning postgraduate conversion course with the College of Estate Management (CEM). Visit the CEM website for details.
Work-based route
If you have a BTEC HNC/HND or foundation degree in surveying or construction, you may be able to work as a surveying technician with a company and take further qualifications to fully qualify. See the Technical Surveyor job profile.
Visit the RICS website to find out more about surveying careers and recognised qualifications.
What further training and development can I do?
Once you have your degree or postgraduate qualification and are in relevant employment, you can work towards becoming a chartered surveyor by completing an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). For this you will need to:
- complete at least two years' practical training and experience, and
- pass a practical assessment and interview.
If you successfully completed an accredited industrial training year as part of your degree course, this will count towards the two year requirement.
As a RICS member you would be expected to complete a set amount of continuing professional development (CPD) each year. This can include online study. Contact RICS for details.
You can also qualify as a chartered surveyor through the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) - there are various routes depending on your qualifications and experience. See the CIOB website for details.
Where can I go for more information?
EnglemereKings Ride
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7TB
Tel: 01344 630700
48 New North Road
Exeter
Devon
EX4 4EP
Helpline: 08000 567160
Carey St
London WC2A 2JE
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 6AW
Tel: 0800 019 9697
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8JE
Tel: 0870 333 1600
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Related profiles...
Planning and Development Surveyor
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries can be from £19,000 to £25,000 a year.
- With experience this can rise to between £30,000 and £40,000.
- Senior staff can earn around £50,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work up to 40 hours a week. In the private sector you would often need to work extra hours, including weekends, to meet deadlines, visit sites or meet with clients. In the public sector your hours would usually be more regular.
You would work both in an office and on site, which may involve being outside in all weathers. Assessing sites and properties could be physically demanding, involving climbing and bending.
You would also spend time visiting clients.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent spoken and written communication skills
- negotiating skills
- the ability to work well as a member of a team
- analytical skills
- the ability to develop and maintain working relationships and contacts with other professionals
- commercial awareness
- good maths skills.
What opportunities are there?
In the public sector, you could be employed by regional development agencies, local authorities, hospital trusts, universities and central government departments.
In private practice, you could work in either the commercial or residential property sectors. In the commercial sector employers include large surveying practices, house building companies and property developers. In the residential sector, you could work for large national chains of estate agents, or major regional firms.
As a qualified surveyor, you could move into a specialist area such as auctioning of land, property or plant and machinery, or valuation and auctioning of fine arts and antiques. You could also complete assessment or training to be a Home Inspector or Domestic or Commercial Energy Assessor. See the relevant profiles for details.
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