A guide to setting up a surveying company

1. Apply for Regulation

Applying for regulation will ensure that you maintain the best practices. It also protects your customers and your business. The regulatory body you choose is dependent on the surveys you wish to offer. These regulatory bodies cover the whole of the UK.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

The largest surveying regulator is RICS. Those who are RICS-regulated are authorised to handle any type of surveying query. When registering your firm, at least 25% of principals must be qualified RICS professionals already. You must also agree to comply with their Rules of Conduct for Firms.

Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA)

The RPSA is a regulator that is ideal for those offering Snagging and Party Wall services. Those wanting to join must hold either a BSc in Building Surveying, the DipHI or DipRSurv qualifications. They must also be a full member of either CABE, CIOB, or RICS.

Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS)

The FPWS is the only specialist Party Wall regulator and has different membership tiers. Those starting a Party Wall surveying firm will need to display excellent knowledge of the Party Wall Act. They will usually be asked to provide two party wall awards with one as the agreed surveyor and one where you have been one of two surveyors.

All surveyors must provide proof of RICS regulation before they are accepted as a Compare My Move partner. Snagging and Party Wall surveyors may be regulated by the RPSA or RICS.

2. Figure out the services you can offer

There are a variety of surveys that you can offer. Some surveyors choose to specialise in one survey type (typically Level 2) while others may offer all options for customers.

RICS Home Survey Level 1

Formerly known as the Condition Report, the Level 1 survey is the most basic and cheapest option. The report contains details on the property’s condition and any risks that may be a problem.

RICS Home Survey Level 2

Also known as the HomeBuyers Report, Level 2 is the most popular survey option available. It includes an intermediate inspection of the interior and exterior. The report will detail any defects found.

RICS Home Survey Level 3

Known as the Building Survey, the Level 3 survey is the most comprehensive and detailed option available. It includes a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of the property, including areas that may be difficult to access. The report will subsequently detail any issues found. It also includes reparation cost estimates and advice on how to proceed with these defects.

Snagging Survey

A Snagging Survey is applied to new-build properties that haven’t been lived in yet. The surveyor will need to inspect the property in its current condition and determine the quality of the construction. If the property has not been built then the surveyor will need to analyse the plot of land and the blueprints to highlight any potential concerns.

Party Wall

Party Wall matters are often disputes between neighbouring properties. The surveyor will need to come to a fair conclusion when inspecting the adjoining wall. They may have to negotiate with the neighbour’s surveyor in cases of conflict.

Valuation Report

A Valuation Report simply considers the condition of the property and its location to determine an accurate market value. This is typically added to a survey but can also be applied to various legal matters such as probate.

3. Do your research

Make sure you research the locations you want to cover. Some surveyors decide to work in the local area only. The advantages of this are that it increases local reputation and heightens the level of local knowledge. However, it is more limited compared to those covering a wider range of postcodes.

Offering your services to more areas means that you will have a larger customer base. However, it may involve you travelling further afield, so you will need to accommodate this cost in your overheads.

Another aspect of your business to look into is how much you plan on charging for your services. The best way to do this is by researching competitors in your chosen areas. If you charge too much then your customers are likely to look elsewhere. However, charging well below the average price means you’ll struggle to make a profit.

4. Create a website

The best way to attract customers is by making a professional website for your business. This should outline the services you are offering and contain up-to-date contact details. You should also include regulatory information such as RICS membership where possible.

Our review widget can also be added to your website. This will showcase 5-star reviews to build trust among your customers.

5. Get high-quality surveying leads

Compare My Move can boost your business growth with high-quality surveying leads. You can benefit from lead generation regardless of whether you are an experienced surveyor starting a firm or new to the industry.

Our no-commission business model means you keep 100% of the profit from every job. This also ensures you are not wasting any money on referral fees. We also don’t show clients any estimated costs, so you don’t have to put your prices down when providing your quote.

Learn more about the business growth our partners have experienced through our leads. Beehoo Surveying receive 70% of their work from Compare My Move. When discussing their business development, they said that Compare My Move has “helped us get a steady stream of work - you are our top lead generator”.

Learn more about partner success with our case studies.