The RPSA was proud to support and exhibit at the 2026 Sava Residential Surveying Expo, held at Coventry Building Society Arena on 6 October.
The Expo has become an important date in the residential surveying calendar, bringing together experienced surveyors, new entrants, training providers, employers and businesses supporting the profession. This year’s event certainly lived up to that reputation, with a lively exhibition and two full programmes of technical and careers talks.
A busy day for the RPSA
Andrew, Amanda and Dylan were kept busy on the RPSA stand throughout the day. It was wonderful to catch up with so many existing members, welcome surveyors who are considering joining us and hear directly about the opportunities and concerns being experienced in practice.
We also received some excellent feedback about our new RPSA Industry News service and the daily, three-times-weekly and weekly newsletter options. Thank you to everyone who stopped to talk to us and share their views. Those conversations help us understand what members need and where the RPSA should concentrate its efforts.
A programme reflecting a changing profession
The technical conference covered many of the subjects currently shaping residential surveying.
The opening panel followed the surveyor’s journey from generating an enquiry through to completing the instruction. Other sessions considered heat pumps, communication and customer expectations, professional claims, artificial intelligence and the practical application of the RICS Home Survey Standard.
There was plenty to think about. Technology may be able to reduce administration and improve efficiency, but managing risk, applying professional judgement and communicating clearly with clients remain fundamental. The session on going “beyond the defect” was a particularly timely reminder that identifying a problem is only part of a surveyor’s role. How findings are explained, and whether the client properly understands their significance, can be just as important.
Heat pumps are also becoming increasingly relevant during residential inspections. Surveyors do not need to become heating engineers, but recognising different systems, understanding their implications and knowing when to recommend specialist advice will become increasingly valuable.
Artificial intelligence was another unsurprising but important topic. Its potential to support surveyors is considerable, although the emphasis on managing risk and ensuring that AI works for the surveyor, rather than replacing professional scrutiny, was well placed.
The careers stage demonstrated the breadth of opportunities within the profession. Talks explored different surveying roles, diversification into additional inspection services, progression from qualification to career success and the experience of moving from employed work into independent practice.
It was also encouraging to see women in residential surveying represented across both programmes, reflecting the increasingly diverse range of people building successful careers in the sector.
An exhibition covering the whole surveying journey
The exhibition brought together businesses from across the residential surveying world. RICS, CABE, ABBE and Sava were joined by employers and surveying firms including e.surv, Connells, Countrywide Surveying Services, Westmarq and Peer | King Surveyors.
Technology and reporting providers included GoReport, MyReport, SiteWrite, Sprift, Cotality and Rightmove, while exhibitors such as Howden Insurance Brokers, Anchorman Professions, LionHeart, Rebuild Cost UK, Survey Booker and reallymoving demonstrated the wide range of services now available to support surveyors and their businesses.
The variety of exhibitors was one of the event’s real strengths. Whether someone was entering the profession, developing an established practice, exploring new technology or looking for specialist business support, there was somebody worth speaking to.
Put next year’s Expo in your diary
If you have never attended the Sava Residential Surveying Expo, keep an eye out for next year’s announcement. It is an excellent opportunity to earn CPD, discover new products and services, meet other surveyors and get a broader view of where the profession is heading.
The RPSA is delighted to support an event that continues to go from strength to strength. Thank you to the entire Sava team, everyone who contributed to the conference programmes and all those who came to say hello.
We look forward to seeing you again next year.
A big thank you to Helen Orme from Sava, who organises everything seamlessly.
