Keep up to date with the latest Andrew Granger & Co news
Thu 30 July 2020
Do you know what a property surveyor does? Ever wanted to find out? Well, James Steed, 24, one of Andrew Granger & Co’s surveyors gives us an idea of what a day in his life involves.
What made you chose this industry and area of work?
I have been interested in investments for some time, but I soon realised that most investors are relatively hands-off, and I didn’t want to go down the self-employed route at such a young age. I really liked the idea of being involved with properties and how they can serve as an investment, so I enrolled onto a master’s degree in real estate management at Birmingham City University and haven’t looked back since. As a surveyor regularly working with, and for investors, I get to work with tangible assets, in a more hands-on manner. I enjoy seeing the physical changes of land and property, whether that be a tenant who brings life to a premises, or a new development.
How does your day in the office start?
It’s a 50/50 shot whether I will be in the office, however, when I am, most days start with a strong coffee, a catch up with our department director followed by working through emails and setting a plan of attack for the day.
What can a typical day involve for you?
Whilst I complete my Assessment of Professional Competence there really isn’t a ‘typical day’ for me. 50% of my time is in the office and the other 50% can be anywhere. I can be launching a brand-new office building in the morning and in the afternoon of the same day I can be on a farm dealing with agricultural matters. I really do get involved with a mixed bag of land and property affairs. My days often include estate management, valuations, strategic development land and some commercial agency tasks which means, attending, inspecting, measuring and surveying a wide range of land and property. Following that I return to the office and prepare the relevant reports and provide appropriate advice for our clients.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The variety of projects is what keeps it exciting, but it’s also very rewarding to see your work making a difference to your clients and I really enjoy the face-to-face side of the job. It also helps having a great team to work with.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The most challenging part of the job is anticipating what’s coming next. It’s always a case of keeping one eye on what’s happening now and one eye on what’s around the corner (and a third eye on the rest!). We try to be pro-active rather than re-active, so keeping a grip on market conditions, landlord/tenant movements and changes to legislation is very important and requires constant attention.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
My usual answer would be getting outdoors, sports, gym, socialising and travelling – which is still the case, but since the restrictions of Covid-19 and becoming a homeowner I have also turned into a lover of DIY projects… something I never thought I would say!
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A bit of both. But if I had to say one – I would say night owl. That said there is nothing better than starting the day early, I often find it is the most productive time of day, with the least distractions.
Andrew Granger & Co offers a wide range of property services from it’s three offices across Leicestershire in Leicester, Loughborough and Market Harborough and you can find out more at www.andrewgranger.co.uk.
James works as part of Andrew Granger & Co professional department who can be contacted on 0116 242 9933.
