MRICS FRICS or 'RICS valuer' for buildings survey

Duncan77

I'm trying to organise a 'Home Buyer's Survey' on a 10 year old house I'm in the process of purchasing.

My Estate agent has advised to make sure the surveyor is RICS registered.
The particular company I'm looking at has a website stating they are RICS valuers. 
Is this the same thing?,or does it mean they are only registered for valuations rather than more in-depth surveys?

Others have MRICS or FRICS symbols, (this one doesn't- just 'RICS valuers').

Should I be concerned?

Duncan77

Also, on a second point, I wanted to accompany the surveyor as I didn't get a chance to look in the attic on my viewing (no ladder) and would like to do so. 
However, the company refuse this, saying it is not allowed and they want the surveyor to 'get on with the job'. 
Even if I turn up with the Estate agent and my own ladder they will not allow me access at the same time as the surveyor is there; making some excuse about insurance.
I find this incredible!
Is this standard practice? 

kingstreet

AFAIK MRICS members aren't qualified to do chartered building surveys. This is about individual surveyors not firms, so a firm may have M, A and F RICS members and the correct surveyor will be contracted to do the job you require.

Yes. Accompanying a surveyor in such an inspection is not normally allowed. You may ask them to concentrate on particular issues though.

lincroft1710

The organisation is the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, an AssocRICS is an Associate (most junior) a MRICS is a Member and a FRICS is a Fellow (most senior). Some will be self employed one man bands, some will be partners in a small firm, some will be employed by larger organisations.


All RICS building surveyors have very expensive indemnity insurance - a former work colleague who was only doing a few building surveys a year, stopped doing them as the insurance premiums made the work unviable.

Tracet74

I work with a firm of surveyors so appreciate how confusing it can be.

A residential survey (HomeBuyer or Building Survey) can only be completed by AssocRICS, FRICS or MRICS. 

They may also be a Registered Valuer, but they are only qualified to carry our valuations.

A survey is different to a valuation!

Given the info provided, a Level 2 (used to be a HomeBuyer Report) would be more than sufficient.

ETA: there's a couple of reasons why surveyors prefer to be unaccompanied. 

Confidentiality is held to you so nothing can be discussed in front of the vendor.
If a surveyor is trying to discretely answer questions, the natural flow of the inspection could be lost.

I've worked with companies who welcome accompanied and others are a categoric no!

user1977

Duncan77 said:

Also, on a second point, I wanted to accompany the surveyor as I didn't get a chance to look in the attic on my viewing (no ladder) and would like to do so. 
However, the company refuse this, saying it is not allowed and they want the surveyor to 'get on with the job'. 
Even if I turn up with the Estate agent and my own ladder they will not allow me access at the same time as the surveyor is there; making some excuse about insurance.
I find this incredible!
Is this standard practice? 

It's not normal for you to tag along with your surveyor, no. If you want to have a further viewing, make a separate appointment.

kingstreet

lincroft1710 said:

The organisation is the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, an AssocRICS is an Associate (most junior) a MRICS is a Member and a FRICS is a Fellow (most senior). Some will be self employed one man bands, some will be partners in a small firm, some will be employed by larger organisations.


All RICS building surveyors have very expensive indemnity insurance - a former work colleague who was only doing a few building surveys a year, stopped doing them as the insurance premiums made the work unviable.

I got it the wrong way round. I thought it was M, A, F but it's actually A, M, F. Cheers.