About a week ago I received a call from a fellow that I hadn't talked with in probably 20 years. Our homes are on opposite corners of the county so our paths don't cross as often as they did when we had kids in school. We had conducted a survey for him in 1991 to split most of a quarter section. Today his home is west of the line we made and his son's home is to the east. Now the plan was to cut off a few acres of his son's ground to sell to someone else.
This morning I was enjoying some biscuits and gravy at a little cafe about 10 miles from my house when a fellow at the next table says to everyone in general: Did you hear what happened to.......?
Since that was the same name as the guy above I listened rather carefully. It seems he had sat down on Sunday morning to pour himself a bowl of cereal for breakfast and promptly fell over dead. He had retired not too long ago and had just celebrated his 62nd birthday about a month ago.
Here's the question. Since the survey was to be on property owned by the son there is probably still a need for the job to be done. I'm assuming the father had contacted me on behalf of the son as he had plenty of free time on his hands and knew me far better than his son does. I have no idea whether or not he had told the son that he had contacted me to confirm that a survey had been ordered. How long should I wait before contacting the son?
It's not a matter of money owed as I only had about two hours of research completed and I can eat that. It's a matter of whether or not the son is still in need of a survey to be completed soon so as to fulfill some agreement with a buyer.
I would drop him a condolence card with an "Oh, by the way ....." That way he gets the message and can reply on his own schedule. I think that's better than calling and catching him at a bad time.
Agree with Dave. A card/letter is something he can later refer back to once things get settled down and is not as intrusive as a phone call which could be taken as someone just looking to make some money.
Absolutely,
Condolences. I have fond memories of your father from childhood and working with him over the years surveying the family land. Should you ever need my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I would also send a card and then put a note stating that the father had hired you to do a survey and that when he was ready to give you call so you can finish, or something similar so that he knows something was in the works. He might choose to cancel all work. I had to do that when my dad passed away. Finished a few jobs that I could get done quickly.
Do nothing. Let it go.
> Do nothing. Let it go.
Disagree.
Yes let the job go.
But a condolences card would be a nice thing to do.
> Do nothing. Let it go.
I concur with that sentiment. Everybody deals with death in a different manner. Let them digest the passing, sort through papers and all the other stuff. Maybe your old survey will show up in that, and the son will want to call you to finish up what pa was working on.
However, I don't think I would tend to send a card to an old clients family that you never met. It may come across as "ambulance chasing lawyer" type of thinking.
I would send a card, wait a week or so and give the son a call asking him if he still needed the survey..if he did not I would write off the amount due.
I disagree that it is like ambulance chasing when there has already been a business contact about the job.
The card with condolence and polite reference to that job contact is appropriate.
Eat cereal for breakfast on Sunday morning.
Thanks for the 'heads-up'. That's off my list now....:bored:
No Kidding! Back to bacon, eggs & beer!!
:good:
I would contact immediately by phone, and follow up with a card regardless of outcome of phone call. Sounds like you don't know if the son knows things that he might need to know. These could be time sensitive and give more problems at a bad time if you don't contact him.
Forgetting that the man had made an inquiry regarding a potential job, would you be sending along your condolences? I think not... I think Wayne has it right... any contact you make now is going to be awkward for the family.
Thanks to all for the comments so far
I have sent an e-mail to someone who can probably help me quite a bit in determining the sensitivity factor at this time. He has been a close friend of the deceased's family for many years, including the fact that they had sons in the same class from Kindergarten to high school graduation. He has provided drafting services for me in the past, so is very familiar with land surveying practices. Plus, he ran his own consulting business for many years so can relate to client communication issues. I should be hearing from him soon.
Thanks to all for the comments so far
Leaning on a mutual friend for advice and information may be the appropriate way to go. However, I recommend that before you fire off a card or telephone call that you wait for an announcement (obituary) to be published. I wouldn't act on hearsay from a conversation overheard at a cafe. Time is on your side in this case not so much for your client.
The obituary has been published
Sometimes when reading obituaries one must wonder what the author was thinking when they included specific wording that is not commonplace. To wit, from this obituary (modified slightly): He was raised in (xxxxxxx), attending (xxxxxxx) schools and eventually graduating from high school.
Why would the obituary writer (probably his wife) insert the word "eventually" unless there is some story to go along with it?
Grief makes one say (or write) inappropriate things
When my brother passed unexpectedly two years ago, I was amazed and baffled by some of the things said.
Grief makes one say (or write) inappropriate things
It's true.
My family tasked me with writing my father's obit. I thought I had done my best. In the text I stated he had "finally passed away on July 6th."
Like where in the world did that come from, finally?
I'm sure he got a good chuckle out it.
