Weekly Web Page 11th November 2005

Being Independent Chartered Surveyors:

All is going well in my training and I am furiously writing notes, there is so much to taken in! The Senior Partner of www.1stAssociated.co.uk told me that we need to be able to picture the property when a client calls and to always listen to what they have to say first.   With regards to all properties whether they are residential or commercial i.e. a public house I need to be able to get a 'feel' for the number of rooms, living accommodation, FOH (front of House - seating area of restaurant - garden - WC's etc ) BofH (back of house kitchen beer cellar), approximately sq footage of the property.   Mark explained that he has a wealth of experience with commercial properties and has worked for Trust House Forte and Whitbread's.   He is also a BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) www.bii.org professional member.

Our commercial surveys really are exceptional value for money and the client gets two for the price one with a survey of this nature.   This includes a full building survey and schedule of condition on the property.

Our Aim

At present our aim is to get approximately ten surveys a month and for other surveyors approximately 20 a month.   In the summer 30 should be achieved for our other surveyors.   All of this shouldn't be too difficult at all as every day we have enquiries and bookings flooding in!

Our Surveyors

Mark explained that now I am sales and marketing co-ordinator (mmm like that title) I need to establish a rapport with our affiliate surveyors and to ring up members from the Institute of Independent Surveyors to explain our affiliate programme and to see if they would like to join our company.   I would need to explain to them that they have to be well versed in IT skills and that a top of the range OQO personal computer (tiny!) needs to be brought to carry out our surveys - our fantastic new database is nearing completion and this will be sent to them if they join.

Marketing

I have been asked to speak to our surveyors individually to seek out ten funniest surveys they have ever carried out and ten worst surveys.   The team have not been very forthcoming with their news as yet, but watch this space.............I have explained there is a prize for the best story so that should get their thinking caps on!!

My next task is to contact home/property magazines to place some advertorials in their publications once I have some stories to share.   The articles I create need to be incorporated into our website to stay high up in the search engines. I will be asking them what articles they're writing say 3-5 months ahead.  That way we can then write something around those articles which will mention www.1stAssociated.co.uk

Say, for instance they're doing an article on Thatched Properties I can then write a few lines about how we are qualified to survey thatched cottages and use some survey's as an example. I also need to start collecting articles from national newspapers on anything relating to property, especially about updates on the new home buyers packs that will be introduced in 2007.   http://www.1stassociated.co.uk/residential-sellers-pack.asp

Freehold and Leasehold Properties

I have learnt all about residential freehold, leasehold, long lease, risks with freehold, risks with leasehold, commercial leases, shared freehold (which is new), sinking funds and cyclical maintenance.   To find out more details visit this page http://www.1stassociated.co.uk/media-freehold-leasehold.asp

ISA (Independent Surveyors Association)

I phoned ISA to introduce myself and asked about the copyright documentation for Home Buyers Reports and Valuation (HSV).   I was very fortunate to speak to the Chairman of ISA.   He explained that surveyors who use the HSV have to have the copyright.   ISA's members also need to have a copyright license from RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) in order to carry out their work.   He also explained that once the Home Condition Report is up and running in 2007 the HSV will disappear altogether so ISA have an updated copyright for HSV for the next 12 months at the moment as he believes the scheme will be up and running before 2007.

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