Putting your house in order has never been easier

Expanding your property can give you the home you've always wanted. It can also help your chances of a sale if you're putting it on the market and is a definite consideration for homebuyers with an eye on developing properties. To transform your house into the one you've have always dreamed of, a few interior design steps is all it takes to get there.

Perhaps the garage could be converted to make a spectacular extra bedroom or a study, or your garden can be expanded to make a lovely patio area ready for the summer.

If you look around your house you will probably see a list of things that could be done to make maximum use of the space you have. But once you've decided what you want to have done - many of us still don't know how to get the 'renovation' ball rolling.
The first thing you need is a surveyor and one that you can trust. If you're unsure whether to convert the garage or attic into that extra bedroom, then they can help you by assessing your options. Far from just offering advice of the overall state of a property, surveyors are able to suggest design solutions, professionally managing an entire project for you and offering expert opinions on the cost / value of proposed extensions. But whatever your plans, you need to know that any problems that arise can be put right quickly. The new Surveyors Ombudsman Scheme (SOS) from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) can help you make sure that they are.

Steven Gould, Director of Professional Regulation at the RICS said: "In the current economic climate everyone wants value-for-money professional services. For consumers dealing with property related-issues, instructing a surveying firm that is regulated by the RICS and which is signed up to the Surveyors Ombudsman Service, offers that peace of mind."

It can be hard to know the right questions to ask a surveyor - and sometimes disputes can occur as a result. The SOS acts independently, meaning that conflict of interest is one issue you definitely won't have to deal with. If you have an issue with a chartered surveying firm, surveyor or estate agent that's registered with SOS you can rest assured that it will be arbitrated and resolved impartially.

Surveyors Ombudsman Service top tips to make sure you get the most out of achieving your dream home.

1. When planning renovation or extension work to improve your home ensure you utilise the free advice guides from the RICS
2. If you experience poor service or incompetence, unfair treatment or avoidable delays with a chartered surveying firm, a surveyor or an estate agent that is part of the SOS the ombudsman will step in to examine the facts and bring a grievance to a satisfactory resolution.
3. If you have a complaint, stay calm! You are more likely to get a good result if you don't let your emotions get to you.

For more information visit Sos-advice.org.uk.