Meet the team: 5 Minutes with Claire Brown

At SRVO Property, we support clients across the UK by providing clear, reliable advice on the condition, performance and long-term management of their built assets. Our Building Surveying team plays a key role in helping clients protect value, manage risk and make informed decisions across a wide variety of projects, including complex and historic buildings where experience and judgement are essential.

Claire joined SRVO this year as an Associate Director. With a background that combines an engineering discipline and a strong passion for building conservation, Claire brings a thoughtful, evidence-led approach to surveying, helping clients understand the technical realities of their assets while ensuring historic buildings can continue to evolve and remain fit for the future.

Which recent project are you most proud of, and what did it teach you?

I advised a client on the acquisition of a Grade II* listed building, which was in very poor condition, including advice on a number of associated separately listed properties on the estate. The extent of the dry rot showed me how important it is for owners of important historic buildings to maintain the external envelope of the building to prevent buildings from getting into such poor condition.

Which of our values resonates most with you, and how do you live it day-to-day?

Even though my favourite buildings are usually historic ones, I am very much of the opinion that buildings must continue to evolve to remain relevant in the modern world. I am a strong proponent of the use of technology and evidence-based innovation in this respect.

Describe your journey into property. What first drew you to the industry?

I made a career transition into surveying in my late 30s following a first career as an engineer in the British Army. I just moved from looking after and repairing trucks and tanks, to looking after and repairing buildings!

If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting in our sector, what would it be?

Always ask questions and never beat yourself up because you don’t know everything about everything. You will soon discover that one of the joys of building surveying is that every building is different and you will always be learning throughout your career.

What’s the most memorable or interesting thing you’ve seen on site or during a project?

As a building conservation enthusiast, I love making discoveries in concealed parts of buildings that most people never see. Roof spaces are often the least altered parts of a building, and finding unexpected structures and apotropaic* marks is always exciting. I love finding a medieval building in a Georgian shell!

What’s your favourite building?

My favourite building changes from week to week as I visit new places, but a firm favourite was a breath-takingly beautiful Grade I listed Queen Anne style house in Wiltshire, which had been in the same family’s ownership since the early 20th Century. It was a much-loved family home that had been carefully maintained and adapted since the 18th Century, and each change showed elements of the styles and fashions that had evolved over the centuries.

*Apotropaic marks – ritual protection symbols or witches marks – can be found carved into the fabric of many historic buildings. Find out more about these here.