It’s fair to say my journey to surveying has been a long one and has involved several stops along the way. I was quite an artistic kid, always drawing. Despite desperately wanting to be an architect as a teenager I made the classic young person mistake of overlooking the benefit of years of further education which seemed unaffordable and an eternity. Instead I jumped into a career for money, in my case as a financial trader in London.
It was what I needed at the time because it gave me an income, independence, some discipline (getting up at 4.45 for the 5.15am train each morning took a bit of getting used to) and a career path. I progressed well from a ‘runner’ initially (I have hundreds of stories from this time) to more senior roles via some professional exams, good bosses and hard work. I also took the opportunity to study for an MBA part-time which I wanted to do, thoroughly enjoyed and helped my career progression further. It also righted the wrong of not having gone to university. For years I enjoyed the jobs, the people and the buzz most days but I continually harboured my interest in property. I began investing in property to refurb and ‘flip’ and was instantly hooked.
It was never straightforward but the rising property market helped. Each project brought different challenges and interests and I became fascinated with the defects which regularly presented themselves. I realised very quickly that every property has one issue or another. That essentially was how I added value – by taking a below average property and making it appeal to new buyers. Making an ugly house look attractive is always achievable but I always focused on layouts and adding space where possible. I felt this was a step on from just a cosmetic makeover. I wasn’t re-inventing the wheel but I was taking a risk each time and had to get the end result right. The initial frustration of a defect was followed by a process of improvement and updating. I really enjoy the transformation process and get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the end product.
I somehow gained a (minor and unjustified) local reputation as ‘having an eye for property’ and got involved in more developments as a consultant and project manager. I have been fortunate enough to meet some great professionals along the way including architects, agents, lenders, investors, structural engineers, planning officers, multiple tradespeople and surveyors. People skills are very important in life and I like to believe I am someone who is able to engage with people. I can also talk about property all day which helped.
I was so grateful for the interaction with people on site. It was amazing what I could learn over a cup of tea and a chat with a tradesperson. I loved being on site and I constantly asked questions, whether speaking to the chippy about the roof structure or the plumber about the system being installed and how pipes were run. I have no doubt whatsoever that I took too much of people’s time occasionally but they never said so and were happy to explain things. Seeing the attention to detail and the different stages of development come together was what fascinated me. The wealth of knowledge and skills out there is unbelievable and this was priceless experience for me. It gave me valuable insights into many aspects of the industry. I couldn’t have gained that any other way.
Eventually, I took on a development that moved me way outside of my comfort zone. It provided hurdles right from the start, especially in terms of planning and build. It frankly felt at the time like a step too far. It seemed like each day there was a problem. I had got to know the contractor on the job well over a period of time and I noticed that he never seemed phased. He told me that there is always a solution and (rather bluntly) that I had no choice but to make it work anyway! He had a fair point.
The project was a test of character and having good people involved was the key to its success in the end. It was a huge learning curve for me, an eye-opener that challenged me to understand many property issues. When it was finished, I decided that I wanted to learn more and ideally acquire the credibility of an industry qualification.
Like many people, I had a period of reflection during lockdowns which gave me some time to think more clearly. I decided to pursue a qualification that could enable me to enter the world of surveying. I eventually came across SAVA’s diploma and signed up. As somebody in his mid-40s this was a big decision for me. I questioned whether I was kidding myself, whether I had what it takes and whether the surveying industry would want an ageing newby. I concluded that I owed it to myself to go for it.
The pile of reading material was a shock but the course engaged me from the start. I confess to completely under-estimating the time demands of the course alongside work and family life but I keep telling myself this will make achieving the qualification more satisfying. I have studied part-time before so didn’t really give this much, if any, consideration and my memory blotted out the many late nights trying to finish an assignment or my dissertation. How did I forget this? I would stress this to anybody looking to do this course. Be aware of what is required.
I have met lots of new people on the course who all share a similar passion for property and are happy to chat about anything from damp readings to structural movement! We’re all in different jobs or of varying ages and I looked forward to the days in Milton Keynes when we all got together and had tutorials. They were well structured and very motivating. Since the tutorials finished I have stayed in touch with some of my fellow students, now friends, and we have regular Skype group calls. In fact, we have met at the RICS offices in Westminster a few times to catch up on study, have some lunch and catch up on life. We were given an interesting tour of the building which is very impressive and obviously steeped in history. It’s a blend of old and new in parts, with a fantastic terrace overlooking Parliament Square which I would never have known about previously.
I am now in assessment, which is a lot more isolating than the earlier part of the course. I have had stops and starts because life is busy but I’m determined to gain RICS accreditation while throwing around ideas in my head of what to specialise in at some point or what opportunities in surveying there could be for me. I hope my background helps me navigate many years in the industry.
The world of surveying is huge and captivating with many pathways. Surveyors UK is bringing it all together on one platform.
This article was written by Matt Saunders
Matt is a residential property developer, having spent 15 years in financial markets in a previous life. He is currently studying part-time with Sava to move into the world of surveying. Aside from his obsession with property his passions are football, 90s music and trying to keep up with his busy family!
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