Ashleigh Tokarski

" In my job quality control is very important. When you are undertaking a multi-million-pound valuation, being good with detail is important. Risk management is also very important, being one of the biggest issues that has faced valuers in recent years, due to the rising cost of professional indemnity insurance.At work I am often juggling a number of jobs at the same time. I therefore need to be good at organising my workload and prioritising jobs. I work as part of a team, but also need to be self-motivated to ensure that I successfully manage my own workload. With the majority of my time being spent undertaking valuations, I spend a lot of time looking at numbers and analysing things. Often, when undertaking valuations, we need to collate and review information from a wide variety of sources including building surveyors, quantity surveyors, demolition contractors, planners, landowners and solicitors. Our job is then to review and draw out the key information that impacts on value."

"Working in development consultancy, my job is extremely varied. I have been involved in projects for sites delivering 2/3 dwellings, right up to sites delivering in excess of 1,000 dwellings. I have completed development valuations for sites worth in excess of £50 million, while also valuing the sites that have generated a significant negative value. While valuation is my primary skill, I also acquire and sell development sites and opportunities. Examples of typical jobs include:-\tUndertaking Red Book valuations for loan security purposes;-\tCompiling market reports to assist clients seeking to bring forward development;-\tCompiling pricing reports to assist developers formulating bids for sites;-\tPreparing and reviewing economic viability assessments to assist planning applications for development.-\tUndertaking valuations to support acquisition of development sites."

"My interest in property initially developed as a teenager watching Grand Designs! I initially completed a degree in geography, with the intention being that I would complete a PGCE and embark on a career in teaching. However, despite the great holidays, I decided teaching wasn’t for me. After enjoying those modules in my degree that focused on the built environment, I decided to enrol on a master’s in real estate management. While completing this I applied for a number of graduate training schemes, gaining a place on Cushman and Wakefield’s graduate training programme. Following two years of on the job training, I successfully passed my Assessment of Professional Competence, gaining chartered surveyor status in 2009. "

"I have two children who keep me very busy! I am very active and when I am not chasing around after my children, I enjoy yoga and dancing, participating in weekly ballet lessons. I also enjoy music and comedy, regularly attending gigs and stand-up shows. Travel is also a great passion of mine and one which I am hoping will rub off on my children!"

"I work within the residential development consultancy team, providing strategic and site-specific advice to a wide range of public and private sector clients and landowners. On a day-to-day basis I spend my time out inspecting development sites, meeting with landowners and developers and preparing valuation and market reports. My overall aim is to support the development of new homes."

"A-levels- Sociology (A), Religious Studies (A), Geography (A), General Studies (A)Geography degreeMaster's in Real Estate Management"