[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I suppose that as we all get older we would like to think that we become wiser… I look back on more than 40 years inspecting all forms of buildings. Mainly these have been residential dwellings, but I have surveyed bingo halls, industrial units, farm buildings and even a church.

I consider myself to have been very lucky with the choice of my career and speciality…. that of reporting on the structural condition of buildings. I actually still enjoy what I do for a living, although it must be said that there are physical aspects of the work that are becoming more difficult with passing of the years.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]If I had my time again, I would make many changes to my career which started working in a Bank at the age of 18—I didn’t really know what I wanted for the next 50 years. My Father convinced me that banking offered security and a good pension. I took all the Bank exams, but always wanted to be involved with something more practical. In 1973 I made the break from Banking and moved to the property business. Four more years of examinations saw me qualified as a building surveyor. I remember those early days….and some of the crass errors I made.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1583″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If I had to start again, I would use my surveying experience, and I would link it to innovative technical equipment. One such recent advance is the use of thermal imaging technology which has so many applications including health, damp, heat loss, rescue services and many more. The equipment has fallen in price, and there are training courses available at reasonable cost.

I would couple the thermal imaging to a drone. A drone is an ‘unmanned aerial vehicle’ commonly known as a ‘UAV’ Drones cost between £150.00 and many thousands of pounds. Linked to conventional digital cameras, or thermal imaging kit in my opinion they offer a fine business idea for an enterprising young person.

This technology has been around for a while, and as a practising surveyor I can see many useful and potentially profitable applications.

If only I were 20 years younger![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chris Ennis FRICS is a Chartered Surveyor Tel: 01903 261217 email: [email protected] www.propdoctor.co.uk[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]