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