This is my first post but have been reading this forum for quite a while.
I was wondering do you guys see your business picking up? It seems that for the last several years it picks up a little this time of year when people start getting their tax returns back (small surveys) but then dies down in late spring. As far as contruction, topos and large jobs etc. It is pretty slow but better than last year at this time. I am very curious as to what is happening around the country. If you look at job postings of surveying positions on the internet it seems that Texas and Californina are the only areas with multiple listings? Thank you in advance for your replies.
I'm in the SE US.
Things have picked up since the winter. We are better than we were a year ago. Everybody I talk to is seeing very sporadic pulses of work. Busy for a couple of weeks and then slow for a couple. No real pattern to it, but things "feel" better than the last couple of years. We will see if it holds.
welcome aboard SWAG - here in south texas, at least in the san antonio area, I believe things are picking up- my wife, who is an escrow officer, is doing about 50- 70 closings a month, of which a survey is being required, because, most are foreclosures!
The company I work for is running 4- 5 crews right now- we dont pursue the title work but have been busy..
Slow, but, adequate. We've had so much lousy weather it is sort of a blessing to not feel pressured.
What state are you in SWAG?
Municipality and infrastructure type projects are picking up. The construction project that stopped two years ago are starting up again, and new construction permits are much higher than a year ago. Also, i'm seeing the regular spring time pickup of "hey i'm building a fence, where do i put it?" type work. As far as mortgage related work, such as commercial ALTA's and residential mortgage survey, nothing, worst type of work to be in right now.
> Municipality and infrastructure type projects are picking up. The construction project that stopped two years ago are starting up again, and new construction permits are much higher than a year ago. Also, i'm seeing the regular spring time pickup of "hey i'm building a fence, where do i put it?" type work. As far as mortgage related work, such as commercial ALTA's and residential mortgage survey, nothing, worst type of work to be in right now.
The vast majority of that municipal and infrastructure work is being driven by ARRA (Stimulus) spending, as it continues to hit the streets. Unfortunately some states still drag their feet on it, and some have sent the money back altogether.
I don't know if there is a lot of stimulus driving the 'municipal infrastructure scene' around here, but a bad economy help most cities out somewhat. There is always continuous maintenance on infrastructure. And even though some cities are strapped, they are still huge revenue generators.
Although sitting through a council meeting might make one thin otherwise...they are not totally ignorant.
Projects like sanitary sewer interceptor projects or large water main extension projects stay shelved until the cost of construction goes down. Why replace a sewer main at $250 a foot when (if feasible) wait until the contractors are hungry and get it put in for $175 a foot? There is some logic to municipal projects flourishing when private development is suffering.
> This is my first post but have been reading this forum for quite a while.
>
> I was wondering do you guys see your business picking up? It seems that for the last several years it picks up a little this time of year when people start getting their tax returns back (small surveys) but then dies down in late spring. As far as contruction, topos and large jobs etc. It is pretty slow but better than last year at this time. I am very curious as to what is happening around the country. If you look at job postings of surveying positions on the internet it seems that Texas and Californina are the only areas with multiple listings? Thank you in advance for your replies.
I'm in VA and I have picked up a few jobs lately and have a short backlog. It is nice to be that way. I hope it stays this way.
Still slow for us. Averaging half weeks. I do have a booked week next week. Small topo and two ALTA's (site we had done previously, owner's refinancing)
It's exactly those types of municipal sewer and water projects that were eligible for Stimulus funds. Particularly, ones like you describe, that were just sitting on the shelf, awaiting the funding and right opportunity to put to work. Take a look, (assuming you are indeed in Oklahoma) - you might see some you recognize here, if you drill into the data:
http://www.recovery.gov/Transparency/RecipientReportedData/Pages/statesummary.aspx?StateCode=OK I know that there are quite a few local projects of that type going on where I am that were ARRA-funded.
Of the $3,189,093,927 in ARRA funds that Oklahoma was awarded, the state and municipalities have thus far only gotten $1,786,484,693 worth of projects in motion (56%).
Some of the smaller cities and towns have been improving the parks and bike paths, that require a design topo survey and construction staking. I've been bidding those projects. Also, utility pole replacements and burying of utility services w/in utility easements, require easement staking. Replacement of C&G and handicap sidewalks and replacement of block control point that need referenced and replaced before & after construction. - Really, there is quite a bit of work, mostly small jobs.
Georgia
It picked up in December and January so we had high hopes, then February was all but dead. Several proposals out which might come back signed any day now. The rest is piddly stuff like easement descriptions. Enough to keep us fed, and we are grateful for that.
I'm concentrating on repairs and improvements to the house and yard to keep me busy, as long as they don't involve spending serious money. I'm supposed to be out spraying the weeds, but obviously I'm not.
I went to college for Geomatics with the intention of moving home and going out on my own as soon as I got licensed. Now 8 years of working,wishing and waiting later that time will be here later this year. It is very encouraging to hear that things are picking up around the country because It has been worrying the crap out of me when I think about 90% of our revenue coming from only 2-3 people.
> I went to college for Geomatics....
Oh, oh, here we go.
Locally, a small improvement for some businesses but still pretty slow. I'm personally back on the road with construction and have work extending into June, nothing past that yet.
Most of the construction related work seems to be energy related, either power plants or refineries, and are taking advantage of the lower construction costs. We just finished a phase and laid off all the local hires, next phase is still in the permitting stage and will not kick off until maybe August.
Been sporatic here at best. After going almost two weeks with no new work, between 1:PM Thursday and 1:PM Friday we picked up 6 new jobs. 3 Lots, 15 Ac tract, 138 Ac tract and 415 Ac tract.
Bruce
I think it went over everyones head, but some of us got ya!!!
SWAG...
Georgia is a big state. Care to be a little more specific as to which part of the state you are working in.