The short answer
Memberships and titles are not enough. What actually matters is experience, judgement, transparency and the ability to resolve disputes without inflating them.
Why it matters
The Act is a dispute resolution framework, not a construction manual, so a surveyor who cannot manage conflict will usually increase cost, delay and hostility. Transparency matters more than titles: clear fees, plain-English explanations, quick responses, a focused process, and a willingness to say when something is outside the Act. Be wary of credential-led selling, where labels stand in for practical competence.
What to do now
- Ask direct questions: how many matters a year, how many awards made, how often acting as agreed surveyor, what work they handle most, and how they deal with non-responsive neighbours or excessive fees.
- Look for clear fees, plain English, quick responses and a proportionate approach to risk.
- Treat heavy reliance on titles as a yellow flag, not a recommendation.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on membership or title alone.
- Failing to ask about real caseload and approach to fees.
- Assuming a confident sales pitch equals competence.
When to call Coburns
If you want straight answers to those questions before you appoint anyone, get in touch and we will give them plainly.