Romina De Santis is a building surveyor for the MSA Group which offer services in building surveying, energy efficiency and disabled access appraisal.
Can you describe your area of work?
I’m a building surveyor. I review drawings at various stages. I inspect buildings when they’re completed. It’s my job to make sure that they meet the requirements of the Building Code of Australia and other applicable Building Standards for compliance in Australia and especially in Western Australia.
What sort of projects have you worked on with Neil?
We’re actually working on a project together at the moment. It’s an interesting one because there’s been a few changes along the way. It’s a beautiful home. It’s three storeys. Neil and I have also done apartment developments together. All our work is residential because that’s Neil’s specialty.
What’s it like to work with Neil?
Neil is a great architect to work with. He’s easy to talk to. I can always get him on the phone which is great. If I’ve got a question I can get an answer.
The same with email. He’s patient. He takes feedback on board. If I need clarification, he can either show me where it is on the documentation or send me a quick mark up. If ever I need more information to make the necessary assessment he’s quick to provide it.
Can you talk a little more about his project documentation?
It’s great when Neil’s given the project as a whole to document. His work is thorough. That means it’s quality documentation that I get to assess. In my job I get all sorts of different levels of documentation. Poor documentation creates a lot more work and questions that I need answered. Neil’s documentation is well put together because of his experience and knowledge.
What do you enjoy most about working on one of Neil’s projects?
I enjoy his creativity and his calm attitude. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Neil stressed. He just takes things in his stride. That’s one of the main reasons I enjoy working with him.
If you were advising someone who’s thinking of working with Neil, what would you say to them?
He’s going to steer you in the right direction. He’ll take your brief on board and he’ll make it shine. I look at features that he puts into a home. I can see there’s a lot of thought and creativity that’s gone into his design. If I had to recommend an architect, I would definitely recommend Neil, without a doubt. Whether it’s maximising development potential or a view – Neil is both practical and creative.