Tweet
Travel,Tourism in France
Are you trying to find a bi-lingual, chartered building surveyor in France?
Finding one is easy and is literally two or three mouse clicks away.
Steps
There are a number of bi-lingual, specialist Chartered Building Surveyors resident and practicing in France. Simply type in to any search engine chartered building surveyor france.
You will find many details appear - make your choice.
Ask what professional bodies the surveyor belongs to and get his/her membership number/s.
Verify the surveyor with his/her professional body. You can do this by Emailing the professional body with the number that you have been given by the surveyor. Ask the professional body to confirm to you that the surveyor you have selected is...(a)registered with them and...(b)is a Chartered Building Surveyor member.
Tips
Despite what you may be told, your French property purchase can be 'subject to survey' (with a 'clause suspensive' inserted in to the Compromis de Vente). Many agents and notaires try to say this can not be done. It can be (so long as the vendor agrees).
Don't confuse 'Chartered Surveyor', 'Chartered Architect', Chartered Engineer' etc. with 'Chartered Building Surveyor'. They are not the same thing.
Surveyors saying that they are members of a 'building surveying faculty' are not always qualified to survey buildings.
Check that the surveyor has a French telephone number and an address in France.
Check that the surveyor is bi-lingual English/French.
Ask the surveyor if they are registered as a business in France and if they say yes, ask for their SIRET number and for their Code APE (these confirm they are a business registered in France and what type of business respectively - the French authorities designate Chartered Building Surveyors in the Code APE 742C - Engineers).
Warnings
A lot of estate agents in France will say that "we don't do surveys here in France". Some will say there are no specifically qualified surveyors and/or they will suggest to you that a local builder or architect have a look at the premises for you. Then there are the semi-retired construction/property industry workers, engineers, carpenters, jobbing builders and even farmers all offering 'surveying services' in France so beware of comments such as "35 years of experience" because it may not be in building surveying!
These individuals may, of course, be knowledgeable about buildings and their problems. However, the chances are that many will have limited or no formal/accredited building surveying training and they will not have been assessed on their building surveying knowledge by a professional body specialising in building surveying.
In addition, there is the problem that any person may call themself a 'Surveyor' or 'Building Surveyor' and may offer a 'Surveying Service'. Many exploit this free use of the word surveyor and mislead the public - and it is often at the expense of those purchasing a French property.
With technology as it is, the crooks see ways of taking advantage and there are a fair few websites (aimed at conning those who need a surveyor in France) that fraudulently use the logos of professional surveying organisations and describe the business proprietors as 'professional members of..... etc.
Before engaging any 'professional' member check direct with the professional oraganisation and ask the professional organisation to verify the membership number (that a member must give to you if you ask them).
Finding one is easy and is literally two or three mouse clicks away.
Steps
There are a number of bi-lingual, specialist Chartered Building Surveyors resident and practicing in France. Simply type in to any search engine chartered building surveyor france.
You will find many details appear - make your choice.
Ask what professional bodies the surveyor belongs to and get his/her membership number/s.
Verify the surveyor with his/her professional body. You can do this by Emailing the professional body with the number that you have been given by the surveyor. Ask the professional body to confirm to you that the surveyor you have selected is...(a)registered with them and...(b)is a Chartered Building Surveyor member.
Tips
Despite what you may be told, your French property purchase can be 'subject to survey' (with a 'clause suspensive' inserted in to the Compromis de Vente). Many agents and notaires try to say this can not be done. It can be (so long as the vendor agrees).
Don't confuse 'Chartered Surveyor', 'Chartered Architect', Chartered Engineer' etc. with 'Chartered Building Surveyor'. They are not the same thing.
Surveyors saying that they are members of a 'building surveying faculty' are not always qualified to survey buildings.
Check that the surveyor has a French telephone number and an address in France.
Check that the surveyor is bi-lingual English/French.
Ask the surveyor if they are registered as a business in France and if they say yes, ask for their SIRET number and for their Code APE (these confirm they are a business registered in France and what type of business respectively - the French authorities designate Chartered Building Surveyors in the Code APE 742C - Engineers).
Warnings
A lot of estate agents in France will say that "we don't do surveys here in France". Some will say there are no specifically qualified surveyors and/or they will suggest to you that a local builder or architect have a look at the premises for you. Then there are the semi-retired construction/property industry workers, engineers, carpenters, jobbing builders and even farmers all offering 'surveying services' in France so beware of comments such as "35 years of experience" because it may not be in building surveying!
These individuals may, of course, be knowledgeable about buildings and their problems. However, the chances are that many will have limited or no formal/accredited building surveying training and they will not have been assessed on their building surveying knowledge by a professional body specialising in building surveying.
In addition, there is the problem that any person may call themself a 'Surveyor' or 'Building Surveyor' and may offer a 'Surveying Service'. Many exploit this free use of the word surveyor and mislead the public - and it is often at the expense of those purchasing a French property.
With technology as it is, the crooks see ways of taking advantage and there are a fair few websites (aimed at conning those who need a surveyor in France) that fraudulently use the logos of professional surveying organisations and describe the business proprietors as 'professional members of..... etc.
Before engaging any 'professional' member check direct with the professional oraganisation and ask the professional organisation to verify the membership number (that a member must give to you if you ask them).
Comment