Building Surveyor

As its title suggests, a building surveyor surveys buildings, identifies defects and provides technical advice on repair and maintenance options.

Most may not know about the Great Fire of London that happened on September 2, 1666. On that fateful night, a small fire broke out in a local bakery. It would have been easy to put out the fire as it was of manageable scale, at first. But, an inherent issue with the buildings of that time was that they were built so closely together, a little fanning by wind was all it took to turn a blaze into an inferno, burning the city fiercely for five days. At least 80% of the city was destroyed. It was disastrous. It led to the birth of the building surveyor profession.

A building surveyor works in the best interest of the community, ensuring building works of satisfactory quality and design for the health and safety of its occupants.. You need to have in depth knowledge of building and safety regulations and keep yourself updated with any new legal requirements. Excellent oral and written communication skills are important, as detailed documentation and presentation is an important part of the job.

Workings hours are the standard 9-5, with low overtime commitment. It is a very hands-on role where you will spend most part of your working day on sites. Oftentimes, you may find yourself climbing up ladders or scaffolds during inspection. That said, you need to be reasonably fit. Most assignments will require you to work alone.