u/Legitimate_Fix5720

Hello everyone!

So i have an idea ( an irrational but exciting one )

Im 24, living at home, about to go to uni in september for 3 years followed by 2 years working towards a property surveying chartership. So I know that I won't get this chance for a while. I finish my job in 3 days and I have £7500 saved up.

I also have a part time job thats fully remote ( I can do it in the van ) this will bring in around £1000pm

My idea is to travel around Europe before i go to uni, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy...

1. Can I buy a van for that amount, how much would it be to make it habitable ? Also - should I buy cheaper ?

2. What are some red flags / warnings that go off in your heads about doing this ?

3. Can I survive in Europe for £1000pm, if not thats fine - I will be able to source some cash - somehow.

4. What vans should I look out for ?

5. Do vans increase in value once kitted out as living spaces ?

Appreciate the help people 🙏

Hey everyone,

I’m 24 and about to start my undergrad degree here in the UK in Real Estate Development and Management.

It’s an RICS-accredited pathway that opens up options like valuation, agency, and asset management. However, I have the option to switch over to Building Surveying after my first year if I want to go down a more technical route.

My ultimate goal is to find a career path that is highly profitable and business-minded, but I also want a lifestyle that gets me as close as possible to a 50% office and 50% site work split—I don't want to be chained to a desk all week, but I don't want to be on a muddy construction site 24/7 either.

I’d love to pick your brains on a few things regarding the UK market:

• Real Estate vs. Building Surveying: Which path generally offers higher earning potential and a more "business/commercial" mindset as you progress?
• The 50/50 Split: Which specific roles within these pathways actually achieve that sweet spot of half office, half site work? (e.g., Is commercial valuation mostly desk-based? Does Building Surveying lean too heavily into site work?)
• Market Demand: Which fields are screaming for grads the most in the UK right now?
• Salary expectations: What are realistic average wages looking like for grads vs. people with 3–5 years of experience (post-APC)?
• Austrailia: Has anyone here made the move from the UK to aus? i can't seem to find any proper information anywhere.

Also, if anyone currently working in either field is open to a quick 10-15 minute phone call to let me ask a few questions, I would be massively grateful. I know your time isn't free, so I am more than happy to buy you a coffee or pay you for a chat—just name your price.

Hey everyone,

I’m 24, a British citizen, and I’m about to start my undergrad degree over here in the UK in Real Estate Development and Management.

In the UK, this is an RICS-accredited pathway that opens up into valuation, asset management, commercial sales, etc. I also have the option to switch over to Building Surveying after my first year if I want to go down a more specific technical route.

I’m planning a trip out to Australia this December to visit different property/surveying firms just to get some face-to-face insight, talk to people in the industry, and figure out which exact direction I want to steer my career before I graduate. Visas aren't a massive worry for me right now as I already know I'll clear the skilled migration points requirements later down the line.

Since I'm still figuring out the differences between the UK and Aus markets, I just wanted to pick your brains on a few simple things:

• What do you guys actually do day-to-day, and what specific roles are out there in Aus for surveying/real estate?
• What fields/roles are screaming for people the most right now? (e.g., is it valuation, quantity surveying, building surveying?)
• What are the average wages looking like for grads vs a few years experienced?

Also, if anyone in the industry is open to a quick 10-15 minute phone call to let me ask a few questions, I would be massively grateful. I know your time isn't free, so I am more than happy to pay you for a chat—just name your price.

Cheers!

https://preview.redd.it/e8ykxiwx1i8h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=72be9dd551dad095ea698bac24c9ed8061742f3c

https://preview.redd.it/td0yeq7w1i8h1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=afafe6e08e5c95c4dee4c229abecdbef5c7ea21b

Hey everyone,

I’m a 24-year-old British citizen, and I’m just about to start my undergrad over here in the UK in Real Estate Development and Management.

In the UK, this is an RICS-accredited degree that opens up paths like valuation, asset management, and commercial property. I also have the option to switch over to Building Surveying after my first year if I want to go down a more technical route.

My definitive long-term goal is to move out to Australia. Timeline-wise, I’ll either look at moving as a fresh grad around September 2028, or waiting until 2030 once I’ve spent two years working in the UK to get my RICS Chartership (MRICS) sorted first. Visas aren't a massive worry for me as I already know I'll clear the skilled migration points requirements later down the line.

I’m actually planning a trip out to Aus this December to visit different property and surveying firms just to talk to people in the industry, but I'd love to get some initial thoughts from anyone who has made the move or is working out there now:

• Market demand: What fields are screaming for people the most right now in Aus? Is the demand higher for general commercial property / valuation roles, or is the technical building surveying side a safer bet?
• The Chartership question: Is it worth me staying in the UK until 2030 to get my RICS chartership before moving, or do Australian firms value local experience more? Do MRICS letters carry the same weight over there?
• Wages: What are average wages looking like for fresh UK grads vs someone coming over with 2 years of experience and a chartership?

Also, if anyone is open to a quick 10-15 minute phone call to let me pick your brains, I would be massively grateful. I know your time isn't free, so I am more than happy to pay you for a chat—just name your price.

r/AusProperty r/Constructionenviro

Hey everyone,

I’m 24, a British citizen, and I’m about to start my undergrad degree over here in the UK in Real Estate Development and Management.

In the UK, this is an RICS-accredited pathway that opens up into valuation, asset management, commercial sales, etc. I also have the option to switch over to Building Surveying after my first year if I want to go down a more specific technical route.

I’m planning a trip out to Australia this December to visit different property/surveying firms just to get some face-to-face insight, talk to people in the industry, and figure out which exact direction I want to steer my career before I graduate. Visas aren't a massive worry for me right now as I already know I'll clear the skilled migration points requirements later down the line.

Since I'm still figuring out the differences between the UK and Aus markets, I just wanted to pick your brains on a few simple things:

• What do you guys actually do day-to-day, and what specific roles are out there in Aus for surveying/real estate?
• What fields/roles are screaming for people the most right now? (e.g., is it valuation, quantity surveying, building surveying?)
• What are the average wages looking like for grads vs a few years experienced?

Also, if anyone in the industry is open to a quick 10-15 minute phone call to let me ask a few questions, I would be massively grateful. I know your time isn't free, so I am more than happy to pay you for a chat—just name your price.

Cheers!