If you have a client that wants to know what it will cost to perform the individual tasks, do you send separate contracts or 1 contract with the different options defined?
Do you have an example of either?
I have a client that wants to do a boundary a topo and a conceptual design for a subdivision. I've already told him, and he understands, that I can't do a topo without a boundary and I can't do a design without the topo and boundary. I'm just looking for a format, but you're more than welcome to offer any other advice, if you'd like.;-)
TIA
Doug
I use one contract/proposal with multiple line items, for example:
Fees and Payments
I. Boundary and Topographic Verification Survey
Item 1: Boundary and Topographic Survey $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 2: Base Plan Preparation $ xxxx Lump Sum
II. Site Development Plan Preparation
Item 3: Site Development Plan $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 4: Preliminary/Final Landscape Plan $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 5: Preliminary Stormwater Management Comps $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 6: Forest Stand Delineation & Prelim. FCP $ xxxx Lump Sum
III. Final Improvement Plan Preparation (Construction Documents)
Item 7: Final Improvement Plan $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 8: Storm Drainage & Final SWM Design $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 9: SWM Easement Sketch $ xxxx Lump Sum
Item 10: Sediment & Erosion Control Plan $ xxxx Lump Sum
IV. Miscellaneous Hourly Services
Item 1: Project Consulting and Management $ xxxx Hourly Estimated
Item 2: Quantity, Cost Estimates & Permit Processing $ xxxx Hourly Estimated
Total Lump Sum Fee $ xxxx
Total Hourly Estimated Fee $ xxxx
> ... I can't do a topo without a boundary and I can't do a design without the topo and boundary.
>
Really! Why not? Those services are performed seperately all the time. Conceptual designs are almost always done by developers using record land information and not an official boundary surveys, and there is no rule that says one has to have a boundary survey in order to have a topographic survey done prior to preliminary design work. In fact, most topos state, "This Is Not A Boundary Survey".
Think out of the box and give your client what they want without trying to implement rules that don't exist. Now, of course, a boundary survey will be needed at some point, and should be the first order of business, but sometimes timelines and budgets require creativity.
AS3
> "This Is Not A Boundary Survey".
How can I tell him how far the existing buildings are from the boundary line, without doing a boundary survey?
I guess it must be different in a State that doesn't require a recording of the boundary survey. It sure makes a difference in one that does. At least in the 2 states I've worked in.
I can give a client that is interested in purchasing a developable property, enough information about the property, to help him decide if he wants to buy it, or not. But this is not the case with this client. He wants to know exactly, what he's dealing with.
Doug
> I have a client that wants to do a boundary a topo ...
>
>
> How can I tell him how far the existing buildings are from the boundary line, without doing a boundary survey?
Your post doesn't make sense.
It sounds like he wants a boundary survey with the topo.
:coffee:
> Your post doesn't make sense.
> It sounds like he wants a boundary survey with the topo.
>
>
> :coffee:
Sorry, I forgot the comma.
He wants to do a boundary, a topo, and a conceptual design for a subdivision and wants to see 3 seperate costs.
He owns the property and is looking to sell it. The potential buyer will most likely be a developer and this guy wants to go into the deal with both guns loaded.
You can do topo without boundary (USGS topo'd the entire country without boundary) but that may not serve the needs of the project best.
I suppose you could go to your cadillac dealer and get a cost breakdown too. Body, wheels, tires, engine, etc. I can afford everything but the wheels and tires right now.
Give him a price for boundary only, another for boundary with topo, and another for the conceptual design.
If you give him a separate price for the topo alone, you're thinking of it on top of the boundary, but he will be looking at it as the ONE survey he needs, "just skip that boundary thing, I know well enough where my lines are".
Great Minds Think Alike
> Give him a price for boundary only, another for boundary with topo, and another for the conceptual design.
That's what I did 😉
