About Craig Dodd, Building Surveyor

Craig Dodd has been in construction most of his working life, having taken a popular route from initial exposure to construction as a labourer, then being trained as a builder, progression through the highly valued City & Guilds professional training as a bricklayer, and then working in the British building environment developing a host of construction skills.

Eventually this led to a desire for professional development, and a career in Building Surveying began with several years working for a Royal London Borough caring for the repair and maintenance of some of the huge housing stock, and much studying at college. With that came professional affiliations with RICS, CABE and CIOB in the UK, along with a number of other bodies.

Eventually, interest turned to Building Control, so further career development went in that direction, finally resulting in a Batchelor of Science Honours Degree in Building Engineering. When it was time to set up in private practice, the work was spread between building surveying, design, and contract building control engagements.

Emigration to New Zealand allowed for more specific training and qualifications to become a full member of the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIBS), a licenced member of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ), as well as professional member of Architectural Designers of New Zealand (ADNZ).

Building control work here in NZ has been with a number of different Councils, including WBOPDC, MCC and NSCC (prior to the amalgamation), HCC, HDC, ODC, WDC, QLDC and ICC, much of which as a contractor. While building surveying has included an 8-year stint with WHRS of MBIE dealing with assessing and investigating leaky buildings, and private work in the broad spectrum of building surveying as referred to under the ‘services’ section above. Design work has spanned from tiny alterations to multi-unit developments, and much in between.

As a Building Surveyor however, the ability to help those who know little about the issues relating to buildings, damage, Building Act and Code requirements, or what to do in the event of some building element failure, is a rich reward in itself.  However, these services cannot be without fiscal charge, but the fees we charge are in the region of 50% lower than our counterparts in Auckland and other large cities.

Surveying of buildings is in effect, a holistic approach to the professional services and advice offered to property owners.  That, in turn, allows them to provide for and protect both themselves and their loved ones, as well as their financial interests in such structures.

Qualifications