About Us
My name is Ben Clear and I founded Clear Surveys in 2018.
Clear Surveys was borne out of my work in the construction industry. I was raised within the industry as the son of a builder and spent my youth quite literally living on building sites. As a child I planned and built everything from elaborate, insulated dens that were fit for a winter's night sleep, to a two storey tree house in a grand old oak tree, with help from my brother Nathan and very little supervision from our parents, just the way we liked it!
Later in life, whilst studying at university, the family construction business was always there and I would return during the holidays to work on the tools with my fellow tradesman and the occasional mate who wanted some summer holiday money.
After swearing blind I wouldn't work permanently for my Dad, (who I admired, but didn't always agree with), after getting my honours degree, I promptly set up my own independent business, called Oak Tree Property. This grew steadily and was going well in 2005 when a key staff member left the family building company and my Dad asked me if I could fill the role.
We agreed on the terms that I could tackle both businesses simultaneously, so long as he didnt tell me what to do. Fortunately for me and my youthful arrogance, he's been gently sharing his wisdom ever since and for that I am grateful. My Dad taught me a great deal about the industry and saved me from many pitfalls with his stand offish, gentle interventions and expertise. As my Dad moved further out of the business, I took on the role of Managing Director and set about changing the sources of our work and the types of projects we undertook. I eventually sold my previous business so I could focus full time on the family construction business, but really as my future wife Aimee had realised that I spent more hours at work than I did at home and something had to give!
During this time our reputation for taking on high quality and challenging projects grew and we were regularly approached by clients and estate agents seeking advice on defects and issues with buildings they wanted to sell or purchase. Our clients employed us to survey properties before they purchased them so we could offer advice and budgets about what was practical and possible. At home I was undertaking major renovation projects with my wife (and children's!) assistance. We bought, improved and sold multiple family homes in order to creep up the housing ladder, which proved fortunate after our third child came along. Back at work I had become known for my own technical expertise (thanks Dad) and problem solving so in 2016 I was asked to join the Federation of Master Builders National Standards Committee. I served on the committee for ten years, assisting with difficult cases alongside an expert panel of builders from all over the UK and with experts from Trading Standards and Construction Law. My experiences with this Committee over a long period of time have been incredibly useful in my work as a Contract Administrator.
My natural next step was into full surveying and in 2018, I transferred my skills gained in defects identification and in running and supervising complex projects, and started Clear Surveys Ltd. For nearly five years, I ran both the construction business alongside the surveying business, but in 2022 I took the plunge and decided to close up the family business. It wasn't an easy decision after 18 years at the helm and over 41 years of continuous trading for the business, but we found a way to make it work for the staff and for us. I'm glad to say many of those excellent staff and subcontractors are still benefiting from Clear Surveys referrals to this day.
I made the decision to focus fully on Clear Surveys and spend more time with my wife Aimee and our three daughters, Evie, Ruby and Rosa rather than become that young man again who worked more hours than he spent at home. One day the kids will tell me if I got the decision right I'm sure. We live in Seaford and the business is based from our home.
I believe people should enjoy their work and I always seek to partner with people who have a high skill set and a good ethos for work and life. I believe strongly in treading lightly, so Clear Surveys is designed around leaving the world in a better condition than I found it. You can find out more about these ideals here.