Our talented team of Chartered Surveyors and Registered Valuers are all members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). We have individual surveyors based throughout the East of England, with surveyors in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, County Durham and Tyne & Wear.
We’ve put the spotlight on Mark Fidgett, one of our Norfolk-based Chartered Surveyors who opens up about his career so far and working as a surveyor at Watsons.
Mark, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m 26 years old, live in Diss, Norfolk and work at Watsons as a Chartered Surveyor. I graduated from the University of Reading with a degree in Building Surveying in 2013. I joined Watsons the same year as a Trainee Surveyor and shadowed Chartered Surveyors within the company for three full years. I passed my APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) in 2016 and became a Chartered Surveyor carrying out surveys and valuations in both Norfolk and Suffolk.
What does a typical day at work look like to you?
Every day my diary has a list of appointments. I usually arrange the driving route to my appointments the day before and contact each homeowner with updated time brackets of my arrival. Access arrangements to properties can vary, from collecting keys from estate agents; visiting site offices at building sites; or meeting vendors or tenants at the property. Appointments are usually for surveys or valuations, but the length of the appointments can vary based on the size and condition of individual properties. I usually finish my appointments by early afternoon and return home to complete my reports. Again, the time required to complete the reports can vary but I ensure I complete the reports for each appointment I have attended that day.
Do you work from home or an office?
When I first started at Watsons as a trainee I was office-based, but became home-based when I completed my APC. This offers greater flexibility as I can travel to appointments from home rather than having to visit the office in the centre of Norwich first. This allows me start appointments as early as possible and reduces the amount of time travelling between my home and the office, which could easily be used to complete reports. I would suggest that whilst I work from home, approximately half of my working day is spent away from home attending appointments.
How did you prepare for a career in chartered surveying?
I have always had a passion for property and carried out work experience with a firm of surveyors at the age of 15 . I then enrolled to study Building Surveying at the University of Reading – this is an RICS accredited course and therefore worked towards my APC. Whilst the university route is the quickest to becoming fully chartered, other options do exist, such as working whilst studying.
What do you like most about your job?
With my passion for property, this job role allows me to visit a wide variety of residential properties and learn more about their history and construction. I also enjoy the balance of working from home and being out on appointments. Every day can be different.
What kind of support do you receive from Watsons?
Watsons helped me gain the experience required to pass my APC. Even though I work from home, we have regular Skype calls with our team of Chartered Surveyors and members of the admin team. I also attend regular conferences in order to enhance my property knowledge.
Does Watsons provide you with a career route?
I started Watsons as a Trainee Surveyor and after five years at Watsons, I am now a Chartered Surveyor with two years post-qualification experience. I am continuing with my CPD and understand there are options available to me.
Thinking about a career in property surveying?
If you are interested in surveying and would like to develop your career as a Chartered Surveyor, please email your CV and any questions to hr@watsons-property.co.uk – Alternatively, please call Alison Crawford, Head of Business Operations on 01603 751567 to discuss our current nationwide surveying opportunities. A career with Watsons is an investment in your future.
For more information on our Valuation & Survey services or to obtain a quote, please contact our Survey Team on 01603 751577 or email: survey@watsons-property.co.uk
