williag9

Hi

Can anyone advise me with regards finding an equivalent, or similar role to a UK Chartered Building Surveyor in the USA please? I am currently researching home inspector positions, but need some re-training (which looks really interesting), as this looks a close match to some of my skills and experience. Any help or advice would be very helpful. I have been looking to move for a couple of years, but not having much success so far. Many thanks .

christmasoompa

Hi, and welcome to BE.

I've moved your post as it's quite specific to the U.S., hopefully the kind folks in the forums there will be able to help.

Are you a U.S. citizen or LPR?

Good luck with the job hunt.

williag9

Hi

Thanks for swift response; I confirm I am a UK resident, so either sponsorship or purchase of a business are the most likely routes available to me.

Thanks again

sir_eccles

You would most likely need to retrain and get certification. Some of the certification may also be state specific.

williag9

[QUOTE=sir_eccles;11581111]You would most likely need to retrain and get certification. Some of the certification may also be state specific.[/QUOTE

Thanks for your message, I have some additional related skills, but v happy to retrain as suggested. I also have significant experience, I lack the contacts however.

Thanks again for your help.

sir_eccles

That's your bigger problem. You can retrain until the cows come home, unless you have some specialist niche skill and know the right people in the US, your resume is going to end up in the round file.

williag9

Agreed (sadly!) - That's the problem. Given the opportunity, I know I would be an asset. I'll keep looking therfore.

Thanks again, all the best.

Pulaski

You realize that visa sponsorship of someone without the requisite qualifications or any US experience is simply not going to happen, don't you?

Buying a business, again without the requisite qualifications or any US experience is a very risky proposition.

Might you be willing to share what your interest in relocating to the US is?

BTW I had relevant industry experience (not as a surveyor), and my own visa lined up (my wife is a USC), and still could get no traction whatsoever with potential employers, despite having a well-connected recruitment agent helping me, until I was actually in the US.

ols-london

I'm not Chartered yet but also a surveyor.

On the RICS website they have a search for member function. Why not have a think about where you want to move to in America and search for members there? Always worth asking. I am sure a couple of them will give you some time to address some queries / questions.

Search

Just search by city.

williag9

Thanks for your response. Reasons for considering relocation - diverse country with friendly and welcoming citizens, possible opportunites that are unavailable here. Thanks again for the advice.

williag9

Hi thanks for your response, I have already to be honest and had some good advice from those who replied. As we are still recovering from the recession in the construction industry, the respondents I heard from are nervous to expand. The US chapters of the RICS are working hard to recruit and highlight our skills as chartered surveyors in the US, and are gaining more support each year. My earlier post described re-training as a home inspector, something that seems to be increasing in demand as property values increase (in certain states). This was some of the advice I have received. Thanks again for your reply, best wishes.

scrubbedexpat099

Are Home Inspectors something different outside Colorado?

The guys I have met are often Builders who moved into another field, bit like Building Inspectors, not much qualification required.

Pulaski

I've never used a building surveyor in the US. ..... And a "survey", which is not mandatory in NC, means checking the markings of the corners of the land, not the state of repair of the building.

I have paid for a "home inspection", maybe once or possibly twice, but in my opinion home inspections are largely a waste of time, identifying matters of no consequence to me, and failing to identify matters such as plumbing issues and non-code electrical wiring.

sir_eccles

I remember the inspection we got when we bought the current place.

"this and that wasn't inspected because there was a rug in the way"

Pulaski

Yeah .... "Didn't inspect the roof because I didn't have a ladder with me, roof appears to be 5-15 years old." Thanks.