Sarah is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) with 15 years of experience in building surveys and valuations. She focuses on structural movement, subsidence risk assessment, and calculating accurate rebuild costs to prevent underinsurance. Sarah currently advises on insuring listed buildings and non-standard construction homes.
Sarah Jenkins graduated with honors in Building Surveying from the University of Reading before obtaining her RICS chartership. She spent a decade working with a leading national surveying firm, specializing in historic and listed buildings where standard rebuilding cost calculators often fail. Sarah possesses deep technical expertise in diagnosing the root causes of structural failure, distinguishing between historic settlement and active subsidence caused by clay soil shrinkage or tree roots. Her methodology involves using the BCIS (Building Cost Information Service) data to provide hyper-accurate reinstatement valuations, protecting clients from the financial disaster of the 'Average Clause'. She writes passionately about the importance of maintenance, explaining how issues like failed silicone sealant or blocked gutters can invalidate insurance coverage under the guise of poor upkeep. Sarah also provides consultancy on Japanese Knotweed management plans to make 'uninsurable' properties mortgageable again. Her articles serve as a bridge between complex engineering reports and the practical requirements of home insurance underwriters.