It’s been hard not to notice – more and more business, from both a B2B and consumer point of view, is being completed with the help of technology.
Online estate agents, the digitalisation of the Land Registry, blockchain going mainstream, more sophisticated automated valuation models and new mortgage lending platforms together with automated mortgage advice. It all took off last year.
Government intervention
Technology has also prompted the government to action and it recently issued a call for evidence on how the home moving process can be improved as it seeks, with the help of fast-evolving technology in the sector, to speed-up and improve the way people buy and sell homes.
These challenges are something we’re keen to meet head on too.
As well as completing over 350,000 valuations last year, we introduced new, digital ways for surveyors to conduct on-site surveys and valuations, and implemented a new way to create off-site valuations online.
This has helped us sign significant new partnerships over the past 12 months with both Leeds Building Society and Virgin Money, to provide valuation services.
And this year is going to be busy as well. We have a major programme kicking off to recruit more people across the UK into our RICS Chartered Surveyor Graduate Programme.