Next time you feel the need to cut your price so you can compete with other surveyors in the area, think about this.
I just got back to the office from meeting a client and contractor. Earlier the contractor told me that the client wanted to get someone else but he talked her out of that. He told her even if they had to wait that I was the man for the job.
At one point the contractor tells the client: "Larry is the most expensive guy around .... but he is worth it."
I told the client: "I try to do things in a careful, thorough and professional manner so that Mr. Miller (the contractor) can feel good about recommending me. I'll do my best for you on this or any other project I agree to take."
Notice I did not apologize for being labeled the most expensive guy around. It is a badge to wear with honor, not something to be sorry about.
There are clients out there who want good value. Price is only part of what it takes to get those clients.
Larry P
Is that a plain tuxedo you always wear while surveying or do you sometimes do it "white tie?" Seems like a good outfit to go along with your reputation. (Be sure to serve your invoice from the left.)
🙂
This is certainly one of the more optimistic posts we've seen lately. Glad it's working for you in your niche and you've got the volume of work to maintain it.
There is a school of thought to 'raise prices when slow to offset the lack of volume', and then 'raise them again when you're busy to offset the demand'.... or something like that
that is awesome larry. and those clients are the ones we cherish. problem is, there aren't enough of them. the man who has been in business for years and accumulated enough wealth can cultivate those relationships and pass on the jobs that are based on fee. the young businesses and PLSs who are struggling to keep the bills paid don't always have that luxury. they have to do what it takes to get a foot in the door or keep the wolves at bay.
You go out in this heat and sweat like a dog, come into the office, knock out the plat and legal, all to the tune of how you charge so much for what you do. Then you turn the paper work over to an attorney, in an air conditioned office, he makes copies of your stuff, merges you legal description Word document into his format, bundles it all up and waddles down the the court house to file everything. He then charges the client triple your fee and no one says a word. Well, no one ever said life was fair did they.
I agree with you line of thinking completely.
The price of living goes up for everyone in every profession.
There is no reason any one business should bear the cost for others in the food chain.
> Then you turn the paper work over to an attorney, in an air conditioned office, he makes copies of your stuff, merges you legal description Word document into his format, bundles it all up and waddles down the the court house to file everything.
Look on the bright side. At least you don't waddle!
DJJ
>
> Look on the bright side. At least you don't waddle!
> DJJ
I both limp and waddle after a long day in the field... maybe I should charge double.
People grumbled when survey fees were 10 percent of what they are now. They will grumble when they are 1000 percent of what they are now. Only the faces and names change, not the facts.