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Potential Clients - What's ethical and responsible?

rasmussenls · 2021-04-17T22:21:00Z

Hello fellow Professionals! So here's a current situation: A potential client contacted us to inquire about services. We had a pleasant conversation (about 1/2 hour - a bit longer than I typically spend with a potential client). He provided some information via email, which he had gathered on his own (deed, adjoining property survey map...). I provided a proposal which outlines the services we provide, cost, time-frame. This is his response: Thanks for sending your proposal for the boundary survey. ?ÿ To be honest, this is a bit more than we had originally budgeted for this project, as we thought the small lot size would be a factor in the cost. ?ÿ We've read the FAQ section on your website and that was helpful in understanding the amount of time and work that goes into your final result. ?ÿ Would you be available to speak about a few questions we have before proceeding with the next steps??ÿ ?ÿ A few questions and points: ?ÿ ?ÿ -Exactly how legally binding and definitive are the property boundaries that will be established by your survey? ?ÿ -Does the antiquated nature and language of the original 1857 indenture pose any specific problems? ?ÿ -The west boundary seems to have changed sometime between 2005 and the present. ?ÿWill your research as described in the proposal be able to determine?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿwhen and how this happened? ?ÿ ?ÿ -As in the ?? What am I paying for? section in the website description of your process, will you be able to access the deeds and property boundaries of all the adjoining properties? ?ÿ -Aside from the actual physical marking of the boundaries and any search for liens, etc., how does this process differ from an abstract title search? Are you able to access more?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿinformation than an abstract search can accomplish? ?ÿ -Can you tell us a rough estimate of when the survey could be completed, or is the ten week estimate as good as it can get? ?ÿ ?ÿ A priority here is that we want to be assured that the survey be done as thoroughly as possible in determining the exact boundaries of the plot, especially on the north and west sides of the property. ?ÿ ?ÿ Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you. ?ÿ I have not answered him yet. Part of me (the completely overwhelmed, understaffed and overbooked part) wants to just pretend I never received the email and another part of me wants to respond in a professional, ethical manner. But what is your opinion on my responsibility here? Thanks everyone :-)

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rasmussenls

(@rasmussenls)

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Thank you ALL for your responses! I sent an email yesterday:

Thank you for your email. I appreciate your interest and attention to detail about the process. Most of your questions would be answered subsequent to retaining us for the survey. Normally, I would propose an hourly fee for my time and expertise, which would then be deducted from the final invoice if retained. However, as of today, we are retained with work into July. I can not take on any new work right now without taking time away from existing clients.?ÿ

?ÿ

If, in late summer or early fall you are still interested in our services, please feel free to contact me. Thanks again for reaching out.

?ÿ

I truly appreciate all of you. I can be a softie for sure, however your comments encouraged me to thicken my skin a bit :-)?ÿ

?ÿ

Posted : April 20, 2021 6:18 am

back-chain

(@back-chain)

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Survey inquiries must be in one of those meta-physical moon phases, again. The 'same guy' called, emailed, texted me about three weeks ago. Funny thing is, when I emailed him back to restate the absolute impossibility of meeting his time frame, he never got that email.?ÿ

Then, when he hadn't heard from me after a few days (? after calling however many other professionals in the area and learning there anticipated schedules were no better than/ or worse than/ mine ?), he was back in my inbox and still hadn't heard the facts of his anticipated schedule.

And by the way, if you didn't know this, seems like my anticipated time to complete starts at the pre-proposal phase... 'course you guys prolly already knew that.

In closing:

I would like to nominate this thread for "Best Responses of the Year". Many valued perspectives coming from both sides of the 'do it'/ 'don't do it' line.

And one thing to add to Mr. Ott's response- when you run, run professionally.

Posted : April 20, 2021 7:58 am

dmyhill

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@rasmussenls

There is secret option number 2...if you would like to secure the next place in line, send me a retainer...

Posted : April 20, 2021 1:24 pm

paul-in-pa

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"Lessons are extra," Eddie the Dude.

Paul in PA

Posted : April 21, 2021 6:52 am

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Potential Clients - What's ethical and responsible?

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