Pop Quiz time. Fill in the blank:
1) If I got a phone call from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I __________ answer their questions.
A) would
B) would not
2) If I saw a post on an online forum from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I __________ answer their questions.
A) would
B) would not
Pop Quiz time. Fill in the blank:
1) If I got a phone call from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I would not answer their questions.
A) would
B) would not
2) If I saw a post on an online forum from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I would not answer their questions.
A) would
B) would not
I would direct them to the Provincial or State Association.
Cheers,
Derek
> Pop Quiz time. Fill in the blank:
>
> 1) If I got a phone call from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I __________ answer their questions.
>
> A) would
> B) would not
>
>
> 2) If I saw a post on an online forum from a potential client with a question about their property, in a state in which I am not registered to practice I __________ answer their questions.
>
> A) would
> B) would not
"I just felt a paradigm shift" - Zippy the Pinhead
1 - B
C - would be "depends" on if you know a surveyor in that state, just refer them to that guy
2 - B
C - again it "depends". All of us on this board regularly comment to other surveyors in other states we don't work in. Technically, they are potential clients if they ever want to come here, just as I've done a few things in NV that were referred to me by AZ surveyors. I know some in CA, NM & CO I'd refer to, but would never answer the guys specific questions, just a referral.
How can they be a "potential" client if you are not registered in the state in which they're concerned?
There's no "potential" about it.
They are someones potential client.
We are our own potential (client) grasshopper.
I would in both cases, up to a point. If the questions got very specific I'd have to defer. And, particularly in the case of the phone call, I'd be sure to say that I wasn't licensed in that other state.
If it were questions on how to interpret his description, I would in both cases after informing the individual that of my licensure status in his state. I would follow up with his need to hire a local surveyor to iron out his problems and might even suggest questions or topics he should bring up when negotiating his scope of services.
> I would in both cases, up to a point. If the questions got very specific I'd have to defer. And, particularly in the case of the phone call, I'd be sure to say that I wasn't licensed in that other state.
:good:
The thing is, that on this board, we are generally not making authoritative statements about situations. This is largely because they are theoretical in nature, because we lack context, details, etc.
Most advice concludes with a suggestion that they hire a local attorney and surveyor.
Otherwise, in absence of knowing the location (which usually we do not) these advice topics are interesting in part because of the different practices in different states (which is quickly revealed).
Signature line disclaimer
What sort of disclaimer should we have in our signature line?
Perhaps:
"The advice offered is worth what you paid for it, and should be neither relied on nor repeated. I am providing neither legal nor professional surveying services by my comments and posts. They are for entertainment purposes only, largely my entertainment."
Interesting question, however. The implication is that there may be some liability or professional relationship created by answering questions on an internet forum. I wonder what case law has to say about that.
Do not do "if" or get near them.
Nothing good happens after someone goes to "if".
Had an interesting interview by by someone wanting to come to work for me and all his questions started with "IF" or "What would you do" or "In response to", etc
I stood up and said that the interview was over because I am a surveyor and there are no "IFs" there is only facts or records, never assumptions.
It only went down hill from there because the fool could not understand and he never became a surveyor that relied upon facts or record information.
I will answer any question to the best of my ability when it is an actual question and when I don't know the answer, I will direct them to the best source for an answer.
B-)
Oops...
thought this one was about soda pop...
B
B
Signature line disclaimer
Not sure if it's solely a liability issue
For example the Maryland code of ethics states that a licensee shall not make any public statement on specific land surveying issues if they do not have enought information to make an informed professional decision.
I believe we are put on this Earth to help each other as we are able to do so.
As professionals we should adhere to a code of ethics and understand the limits of our licenses. Having a license in one place does not necessarily qualify one to perform surveying in another place. However, not being licensed in a specific place does not mean you are ignorant. You are still fully capable in a general sense, but not in a specific sense. And getting a license in another place does not guarantee that you know diddly squat in the specific sense about a specific issue in a specific location in that other place. That summarizes why I tend to distrust many of those who live the "Have license, will travel" motto to the fullest. There are specific places in my home State where I will not attempt to accept consulting work for clients with boundary survey issues. I will recommend they find some other licensee who truly knows the uniqueness of the community where the client is in need of assistance.
I see no fault in providing general information to anyone. Usually we end up referring them to someone else or, at least, try to encourage them to seek help from a professional with a much better understanding of their locale. There is enough commonality in what we do that we should be able to converse intelligently with those who do not comprehend the things that we comprehend. We just can't get down to the "brass tacks" in a manner that we could if the issue was in our own backyard, so to speak.
That's a long-winded way of saying that I would attempt to be helpful in both situations of the original post. I would not go too far (using my definition of too far). But, I most definitely would not declare some legalistic mantra suggesting I am totally incapable of raising their knowledge on the subject of concern to them.
Sheesh, Fleming
"...a licensee shall not make any public statement on specific land surveying issues if they do not have enought information to make an informed professional decision."
Are you trying to shut down Beer Leg?
Don
Sheesh, Fleming
> Are you trying to shut down Beer Leg
There will always be a place for snark, boob pictures and P&R posts trying to slip under the radar. 😀
:good:
I find it interesting we all complain about low-ballers taking work, but in a sense we are giving away other surveyors work. At minimum we are giving away a good deed that a local surveyor could provide, and potentially earn a local client or reputation.
Cow,
"There are specific places in my home State where I will not attempt to accept consulting work for clients with boundary survey issues. I will recommend they find some other licensee who truly knows the uniqueness of the community where the client is in need of assistance."
Amen to that!!
A county in North Florida was carved from a larger county and created, about 30 years following the original downtown subdivisions. At the date of new county creation, the lots/block had long been conveyed (obviously by reference to the original creating document). Upon creation of the new county, the old plats were hand copied, with the hand copies being placed in the new county's Plat Book. The hand copies contain numerous errors (duh). Surveyors coming in from Jacksonville, Gainesville and Lake City, to do one-off surveys, with no knowledge of this fact, simply take the (new) plats, and proceed to add to the confusion.
Also, in one of the communities a State Road (60' R/W) runs roughly (that’s "ROUGHLY") along the original 60' Main Street. Surveyors coming in from Jacksonville, Gainesville and Lake City, to do one-off surveys, with no knowledge of this fact, locate the centerline of the State Road, then proceed to locate lots/blocks anywhere from 3' to 8' out of place. (Forget about locating control...none was set back in 1890.)
Just a fact!
So yes, even though we are in our home state, we need to be knowledgeable re existing peculiarities.
ibenhavin