Expert Panel Set Up For Interactive Forum

We are delighted to announce that the inaugural panel of experts who will be answering questions on the home inspectors.co.uk Interactive Forum, which is to be officially launched on 1st May 2005. The panelists are widely recognised within the surveying and estate agency arenas.

Michael Day MBA, FRICS, FNAEA, IRRV, F Land Inst

With over 28 years of experience in the business Mike was Director and Connells and Conveyancing Direct where latterly responsible for marketing and PR, training, ICT and conveyancing.

He was inaugural chairman of the RICS Residential Faculty Board and a Member of RICS Home Buying Business Group. He is Consultant Editor to RICS Manual of Estate Agency.

Mike holds a Masters degree with dissertation research on the Internet and the threats and opportunities for residential estate agency; he now runs his own consultancy and estate agency business.

Barry Hall FRICS, MCIArb

Barry is a member of the Appraisal and Valuation Standards Board and sits on the Residential Valuation and Survey Group of the RICS. He is currently involved in the working groups behind the formation and training requirements for Home Inspectors, as part of the Government package of reforms which include the recent Housing Act 2004.

He has been a Chartered Surveyor since 1972, and an Arbitrator since 1983.

Ekins, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Woolwich/Barclays PLC, is now one of the UK's leading suppliers of surveys and valuations to the mortgage lending industry and its customers, undertaking over 200,000 property inspections per year. Until his retirement in September 2003 he was the Chief Valuer of Ekins, and now provides them with valuation consultancy services.

Lisbeth Petersen LLB, MRICS, ACIB, ACII

Lisbeth is Managing and Technical Director for Surveyor Claims Limited, an independent consultancy specialising in assisting surveyors with all aspects of PI claims.

Lisbeth has more than 12 years' practical experience gained from a variety of employers in the claims handling and insurance industry. She was also lead writer for the Home Inspector Inspection and Reporting Requirements [Guidance Notes].

Ted Richards BA, MRICS, MCIOB. FBEng

Ted has extensive hands-on experience in the field of general building, and before he qualified as a chartered building surveyor ran his own building and joinery company.

Involved for the last 4 years with numerous reform working groups, Ted has represented the Chartered Institute of Building and provided input into the preparation and piloting of Home Condition Reports and created National Occupational Standards in conjunction with the Awarding Body for the Built Environment.

Currently, he is the APC Doctor for Lancashire area of the RICS Building Surveying Division and has experience spanning over 30 years as a part-time lecturer in construction at Preston College of Further Education and the University of Central Lancashire.