Three little words every new-build broker dreams of – Pierson

Some of it works, some of it not quite so much.

But it got me thinking: if I could pick one tech update that would really make my life, and the lives of our brokers easier, it would be something far simpler.

Give me a flag that pops up next to a new-build address on a valuer’s system that says ‘site already surveyed’ – and I’ll be a happy woman.

These three words would save so much time for brokers, borrowers and valuers, and it would save money too.

Ask any new-build broker what their biggest bugbear is, and I can guarantee a fair number will say chasing around after site offices and surveyors trying to connect them so they can book the valuation.

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To throw a few similes at the situation – they’re like ships passing in the night, and for us, it’s like herding cats.

It’s not anyone’s fault – both parties are incredibly busy and have very different schedules, with site offices usually closed for two days in the week.

It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it takes more time than you’d think to call lenders to get the valuer’s number, catch someone in the site office in between their viewings and weekday closures, and then checking up to confirm they’ve made contact. It’s a frequent occurrence and it’s time everyone involved could better spend helping customers.

The process could be simpler

The solution is simple and not one that really relies heavily on technology, more common sense.

Instead of visiting a new-build site on most occasions when a property needs to be valued – carry out one upfront, comprehensive assessment of the development’s current phase the first time a surveying company is instructed to make a visit.

Site plans will show where properties have smaller gardens or are adjacent to structures that may make them slightly less appealing, such as pylons or railway lines.

Add a digital marker to the address record that pops up to flag ‘site already surveyed’ and hey presto – no need to go back until work starts on the next phase, or until the initial valuation expires.

For subsequent instructions, having already been out to the site to survey its layout and house types – information I assume is stored digitally – this, in conjunction with technical drawings, site plans and the slew of data available now, such as achieved sale prices, can be used in lieu of further physical valuations.

I know that the surveying sector is working really hard to innovate its processes – the use of drones, advancements in secure data sharing and AI tools that can analyse images of a property, all of which are exciting and welcome.

But surveyors, if you want to make a bunch of time poor brokers extremely happy and cut down the amount of hours we collectively spend trying to connect you with the site office, an extra hour or two at the site the first time you visit might be all that’s needed to bring a smile to an awful lot of faces – even the ones that only a mother could love, such as mine.

We long for the day when we call up to chase the valuation date and hear back those three little words: ‘site already surveyed’.

Vive la révolution!