Our Founder James McKenzie qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor and has 10 years building experience across both the residential and commercial property markets. Over that time, he developed a reputation for clear communication and a talent for making complex building issues easy to understand.

Seeing an opportunity to challenge Surveying’s slightly old-fashioned image, he created a different kind of property company. Cardea Property Company delivers a modern client experience shaped by fast communication, clear reporting and reliable professional advice.

We believe property advice should be expert, approachable and easy to understand. By combining professional insight with open, friendly dialogue, we help clients solve property problems with confidence — and give them the reassurance that we are always here to answer any follow-up questions.

James and his Assistant Director Danny Gledhill MRICS, and Building Surveyor Jessica Fenwick, are passionate about providing exceptional service. No question is left unanswered and our client-first approach is backed up with thorough, evidence-led reporting. We take pride in providing advice which empowers clients to make their own property decisions. 

In 2025 Cardea was named Building Surveying Firm of the Year 2025 – Midlands and awarded the Client Service Excellence Award 2025 in the Corporate Vision Small Business Awards 2025.

In Greek and Roman mythology ‘Cardea’ is the Goddess of the Hinge. Her role was to protect families and children from evil spirits crossing the thresholds of a property. Like Cardea, we open doors to good fortune and close them when we see danger, helping to protect your assets from evil spirits and defects.