SM Building Consultancy (SMBC) is a leading building surveying practice which provides a full range of services across residential and commercial properties.
Based in Skerries, Co. Dublin, the practice has gone from strength to strength since it was set up by Sean Mooney in 2013. David Murray joined Sean as a director in 2020, with Niall Hegarty and Paula Lacey completing the team. Their goal is to deliver practical, professional advice to suit your individual needs. The SMBC team’s extensive knowledge of the industry, combined with their wealth of experience, ensures you are in safe hands from the outset.
The SMBC directors have almost 30 years’ combined experience in providing professional building surveying services and advice to a network of building owners, occupiers, asset managers, funds and agents. They specialise in residential property, commercial property, project management and owner or occupier properties of types and sizes.
“I established the practice in early 2013 just as the country was coming out of recession,” Sean remembers.
“Our initial focus was on commercial work, but that changed over time when we became very involved in the residential side of things. I wanted to reclaim the ground we lost in commercial property due to being so busy in residential property, so I asked David to come on board as a director. I knew him from college where he was a year behind me.
“He has boosted our commercial property portfolio to such an extent that it now accounts for nearly 50% of our business. David is shouldering his share of the responsibility which is helping us to build up the company.”
Whereas SMBC’s residential clients are nationwide, its commercial clients are predominantly Dublin-based. When purchasing a residential property, it is essential that, before committing to the purchase, a building survey is carried out so that the buyer has a full understanding of the property’s condition and the potential costs arising to put the property into repair.
Typical residential services provided by SMBC include: Insurance Residential Valuations; Building Surveys; Boundary Disputes; Measured Surveys; Certificates of Compliance; Snag Lists.
SMBC also provides a wide range of services to commercial property owners and occupiers, from Technical Due Diligence, Pre-Acquisition Building Surveys, Vendor Surveys, Feasibility Surveys and Development Monitoring to Consultancy, including Schedules of Dilapidations, Schedules of Condition, Planned Preventative Maintenance Schedules (PPM), Sinking Fund Calculations, Measured Surveys, Statutory Applications (Planning Permissions, Fire Safety & Disability Access Certificates) and Assigned Certifier.
In addition, the practice offers tailored project management services to its clients for building works on existing premises, which include: Feasibility Study; Space Planning & Design Services; Cost Consultancy, Tender Preparation and Contract Administration. SMBC’s depth of experience ensures that regardless of the size or type of property or portfolio, it can also provide effective, tailored solutions to all your requirements.
David says the north Co. Dublin-based practice remained fully operational throughout the pandemic as an essential service.
“The work we do for approved social housing bodies kept us going during the different lockdowns. We enjoy an excellent working relationship with the likes of Focus Ireland and Oaklee,” he explains.
“We have a diverse client base, from private and institutional funds to commercial clients. We cater for the person buying an apartment to the person buying a portfolio of property, and everyone in between.”
Asked what the key to SMBC’s growth has been, David replies: “We keep things small and tight for our clients. We only bring in other consultants as they’re needed.
“We have a great name as a building surveyor, with most of our work being secured through word of mouth and referrals from satisfied customers. Regardless of the size of the client, we strive to give them the right advice and to go above and beyond for them. That’s why they keep coming back to us.
“We are continually striving to develop our business in an ever-changing market.”
Good teamwork has also been central to the SMBC success story. The practice’s small but dedicated team have a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise in building surveying. Having completed his Building Surveying Degree in Dundalk IT in 2006, Sean worked with Alan Caren & Partners before setting up his own business. He is a Registered Building Surveyor and Project Manager as well as an Associate Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
David Murray also graduated from Dundalk IT with a Building Surveying Degree in 2007 before joining the international consultancy firm, Watts Consultancy. Having worked his way up to a senior position in 2013, he then joined The Building Consultancy where he held the position of Associate Director up to 2020.
David is a Chartered and Registered Building Surveyor, and member of both the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Niall Hegarty is also a holder of a Degree in Building Surveying. Upon graduating from Dundalk IT, he moved to Melbourne, Australia where he joined Macutex, a large-scale Asset Management company, as a Technical Quality Assurance Specialist managing a number of major projects in the greater Victoria and Queensland area. In February 2020, he joined SMBC where he is involved in the entire spectrum of Building Services, with a strong focus on the residential side of the business.
Paula Lacey also joined SMBC in 2020. After graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts Hons Degree in Interior Design and Furniture from DIT, she freelanced with her own commercial design company. She then travelled the world, working predominantly in the hospitality industry in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Her speciality during that time was designing and launching new venues and concept spaces. She loves seeing a project come to life and is passionate about delivering exceptional customer service and results for her clients.
As SMBC’s 10th anniversary approaches, Sean and David would like to take this opportunity to thank their clients and suppliers for their continued support.
SM Building Consultancy
Unit 4,
84 Stand Street,
Townsparks,
Skerries,
Co. Dublin,
K34 VW93.
Telephone: 087 949 0839 (Sean) / 086 0444 049 (David)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: www.smbc.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May 2022, Vol 8 No 5
