the survey Building Surveyors provide professional advice on all aspects of commercial and residential property including: • Property condition, acquisition or relocation • Benchmarking/optimising property running costs & service charges • Boundary and rights of light disputes and party wall procedures • Building defect analysis/ solutions & maintenance advice • Building surveys & architectural services, with value-added design solutions • Design, adaptation, alteration – commercial & residential properties • Expert witness; property related issues • Insurance assessment and claims assistance • Landlord & Tenant advice, including dilapidations & schedules of condition • Management of building repairs, external redecoration & refurbishments • Office fit-outs, including full turn-key services • Planned maintenance plans (PMPs) • Property management of residential & commercial blocks • Refurbishment & project management
to ensure encountered defects are corrected at the contractor’s expense, prior to the Surveyor’s Final Certificate. All too often clients obtain incomparable quotes from contractors (with no detailed specification), instruct the cheapest and end up with a whole host of unexpected extras and anguish — just watch the TV programmes! Building surveyors control the project from inception to completion, they have spent their career overseeing contractors and projects of this nature. They obtain a tendered, fixed price (before the job commences) and ensure a well
completed project for that price — this saves all the heartache and usually costs dramatically less! Building Surveyors rarely design major new buildings/engineering projects, instead specialising in the design, adaptation, refurbishment, conservation and repair of existing buildings. Building surveyors also advise owners/developers on a wide variety of property and maintenance issues. Our training focuses on building pathology and the economic repair, adaptation and conservation of buildings of all types/ages. We are the property professionals that specialise in buildings of architectural or historic significance, as we have the expertise to specify appropriate repairs and conservation techniques to sympathetically maintain the building fabric — while maintaining its historic integrity.
Chartered Building Surveyors are committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), updating their knowledge and skills throughout their careers, to remain up-to-date with modern building materials and technologies. The majority of building defects occur due to the lack of correct maintenance, however, many building defects occur at new properties, where modern/untried materials have been incorporated and/or defective construction requires rectification. Chartered Building Surveyors add value to the development equation through their unique blend of construction knowledge, design flair and property expertise. Building Surveyors advocate the “Golden Triangle” of construction – Time, Cost and Quality. There is little sense in increasing
property
the cost of a project, to expedite completion, if the quality of work suffers. Each side of the triangle needs to be carefully & professionally managed to optimise its influence on the other two sides, not at their expense. Consult a Building Surveyor, if you have a property defect that requires remedy or wish to discuss adapting, extending or the management of your property – as due to our professional training, knowledge & experience we are often described as “the physicians of bricks and mortar”. Property is often the most expensive asset we acquire, the advice of a chartered professional is not only prudent but also valueenhancing. n For more information on Chartered Building Surveyors, visit the RICS website www.rics.org/buildingsur-
John McKillop Smith is a Building Surveyor & Director of Chesterton Property Management (CPM) – Chartered Building Surveyors based at 2B the Cornwall’s Centre (Tel: 200 61394). CPM offers a complete Building Surveying service from the inception of a building project right through to its completion; whether it is a simple consultation to discuss options for a building’s adaptation or a complete turn-key service for the refurbishment of a large commercial property.
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2012
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