Building value from knowledge

Red Book 2012 exposure draft launched - RICS standards products

The exposure draft of the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards (the 'Red Book') has been approved and is now available online. This exposure draft previews the revisions that will be present for the global section of the 2012 edition of the Red Book and includes the recently published IVS, which will be reproduced as an annex in both electronic and hard copies of the Red Book.

Localism Bill receives Royal Assent - Planning

The Localism Act 2011 gained Royal Assent on 15 November 2011. The Act represents a major step in the Coalition Government's ongoing reform of the planning system and will be further consolidated when the National Planning Policy Framework is adopted, which is anticipated in April 2012.

JCT 2011: What's new? - Contracts

JCT 2011 came into effect on 1 October 2011. To help isurv users understand the changes, the 2011 version and the 2005 versions of the JCT Design and Build; JCT Intermediate and Intermediate with contractor’s design; and JCT Minor Works and Minor Works with contractor’s design have been compared. The comparisons also feature a summary of the changes and key reasons to switch to the new contracts.

Red Book, 7th edition - RICS standards products

The 7th edition of the RICS Valuation Standards incorporated a number of changes to enhance its clarity and ease of use. These include adopting the term 'valuation standards' rather than 'practice statements' in relation to the key requirements, which continue to be mandatory for members, since the emphasis is on the delivery of valuations to clear and consistent standards.

Photographing property for marketing - Estate agency

Photography is perhaps the least understood and most underestimated, yet fundamentally necessary skill for the successful modern estate agent. This section provides guidance on the best equipment to use, modern property photography techniques, and a primer on the more technical elements of photography.

RICS Forms of Consultant's Appointment - Document templates

Updated versions of the RICS Standard Form of Consultant's Appointment, RICS Short Form of Consultant's Appointment and the related explanatory notes are now available for download on isurv and for interactive creation on isurv ProForms.

• SMM7: Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works, 7th edition
• Valuation practice and methodology
• Red Book: RICS Valuation Standards
• Dilapidations
• Contract administration
• NRM: Order of cost estimating and elemental cost planning
• Practice management guidelines
• Cost management