part of national energy services the future of surveying and the hcs austin baggett managing...
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Part of National Energy Services
The future of surveying and the HCS
Austin Baggett
Managing Director, SAVA and National Energy Services
Offering the next generation of surveyors a way forward
Increasing demand
o A few facts and figures from SAVAo Overcoming institutional barriers to take upo Better consumer marketingo Making the HCS outputs better for the consumero Opening up the HCS to chartered surveyorso Opening up the HCS to new entrants
A few facts and figures from SAVA
997 in 1000 homes don’t have an HCS
2855 HCS in 2013Up 14%
Generated £49k of income for NES
Insurance premium Claims handling QA checks Software hosting Software development Technical bulletins Sponsoring the RPSA
conference!
0.3% share of property transactions
3247 HCS in 2014
800 in 1000 homes don’t have a survey at all
The HCS is a fantastic product that offers homebuyers real value
Overcoming institutional barriersOvercoming institutional barriers is critical
Two major ones are:
1. The Valuation gets confused for a Survey
Being addressed slowly but surely by the UK Valuation Commission Residential Cross Sector Group
2. Conveyancers are not protecting their customers by recommending a condition report
Better consumer marketingNew SAVA consumer website launched last year.
Priorities now:
Achieving higher Search Engine results
Then in 2016:
Make it easier to buy a survey – either transactional or at least fuller information on individual surveyors
However, the best promotion is still that which is delivered by surveyors via local networks
Making the HCS bettero A new improved version of the HCS
software is launched in May.
- Brings the look and feel up to date and in line with our consumer website - Photographs throughout, including
section C which is a specific benefit to conveyancers.
- Bug fixes and user enhancements such as Auto Save
o Next: HCS data collection and report generator deployed on Android/iOS tablet. Launch Spring 2016 – but investment is dependent on market uptake of HCS.
Opening up to chartered surveyors
Why?o Will contribute to the HCS being
perceived as a mainstream producto Will provide more direct promotion of
the HCS to buyers, estate agents and conveyancers
How?o Entry to the SAVA scheme will be via on-
line exam and an assessment of a number of condition survey reports
When?o July 2015
Opening up the HCS to new entrantsPSSB Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation is our first qualification
Quality is paramount
Currently have around 75 going through the Diploma
Maximum capacity is just 180 candidates a year – a relatively small number given the recruitment challenge of surveyors and valuers
In 2016 the School will launch new qualifications
But immediate focus for 2015 is to ensure high quality graduates emerge to pursue their chosen career
The future
o SAVA is committed to the HCS – it’s a great product delivered by highly competent surveyors
o Quality thresholds have to be maintained and enhanced. Insurance premiums and consumer confidence can’t be damaged
o Our focus is on increasing volumes of current product. New product development will be limited in the immediate future.
o SAVA, RPSA, PSSB, and individual surveyors all have roles to play in selling the benefits and removing barriers