From Maths Teacher To Property Surveyor

Former secondary school maths teacher, Neil Trewick, made the decision to swap teaching for property in 2019, qualifying as a residential property surveyor in 2022 through the Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation. Fast forward to 2024 and Neil is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors running his own successful surveying firm providing condition surveys for homebuyers and homeowners as they buy, sell and renovate their homes. 

We caught up with Neil to find out more about his training experience and what he’s been up to since qualifying.

Neil, can you tell us about your background before becoming a surveyor?

I was a secondary school maths teacher looking for a career change. Prior to going into teaching, I worked in recruitment for eight years. 

What Made You Consider A Career In Residential Surveying?

I have had an interest in houses ever since buying my first house at the age of 24, which needed a lot of work doing to it. I undertook most of this work myself with the help of a family member in the building trade. In my early career after university, I worked as a recruitment consultant and noted that surveyors were always in demand, which was another big appeal. It seemed like they were never out of work.

What Drew You To Qualifying Through The Sava Diploma?

A friend of mine had enrolled on the Sava course the year prior to myself and it sounded like it was exactly what I needed. I had a mortgage so couldn’t afford to leave my job. Being able to study part time was ideal.

How Did You Find Juggling Your Qualification With Work?

I found it pretty manageable. I’ve done degrees before, so I’d consider myself academic, which was undoubtably one of my strengths as I progressed through the qualification, especially during the assessment stage which is largely lone working. 

I was able to drop down to supply teaching which enabled me to dedicate two days a month to attend training sessions and I managed to complete the qualification in 18 months around my teaching career. 

I worked hard, powered through in the evenings, and tried to keep it Monday to Friday. When you’re a full-time teacher you do that anyway, so I kept that routine. 

What Has Been The Highlight Of Your Surveying Career So Far?

Starting a successful business has been a huge achievement. The business has now passed £500,000 turnover since its inception and I don’t really have any overheads. It’s enabled my family and I to buy our forever home. 

I’ve also been lucky enough to win a number of local business awards, and one that really stands out is being named the UK’s Best Freelancer in the Federation of Small Business (FSB) Awards. It was only when I arrived and saw the scale of the awards ceremony that I realised how a deal this was. And then I won! It doesn’t get much better than that. 

How Has Your Work Life Changed Since The Early Days After Qualifying?

When I first qualified, I found employment with a firm and found myself finishing early and playing golf a lot! I managed to secure a job with an established family firm to start upon completion of my diploma. The firm was looking to expand and branch out into new geographical locations, so I headed up the Teesside and North-East wing. Since starting my own company, golf has taken a bit of a backseat, but I get the flexibility of controlling my own workload and choosing how many surveys I do per week.

What Do You Love Most About Being A Residential Surveyor?

I survey in the morning and once that’s complete the rest of my day is up to me. I can go home and write up my report straightaway or if the sun is shining I might decide to play golf and write reports in the evening. I never work weekends anymore and feel more in control. 

Would You Recommend The Diploma In Residential Surveying And Valuation To Others Looking To Pursue A Career In Residential Property Surveying?

Yes, definitely. There is a huge amount of content squeezed into the course and although you will feel overwhelmed at first, it’s amazing how much you realise you have learnt when you do start working as a surveyor. If you have another job as I had, it was just the right balance to be able to commit to the two classroom days each month and then I could juggle the home study around my work/life commitments.

What Advice Would You Give To Anyone Thinking Of Joining The Profession?

Just do it. If you enjoy learning and providing a service to people, it’s a great job and you learn something every day. 

Find a local surveyor who will be your mentor as early in the qualification process as you can and make time available to spend with them as often as they allow. All the books and classroom learning in the world will never quite compare to seeing buildings first-hand with someone who can guide your eye to faults and defects.

If you’re looking for a new career in property and think you could make a great residential surveyor, the Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation is an industry-recognised qualification delivered part-time over 24 months. Learn more here.