I currently have no work (except for computer programming, which I'm not getting paid for). After I finished the big job, I passed out business cards to real estate agents. Nothing came of this. I also hand my card to people so that they can contact me (whether for a survey or not). Once I handed someone a card and she said she needed a survey, but never called. I've left stacks of cards at doctors' offices, and I have a website which gets hits at least from search engines. I've asked other surveyors if they have extra work.
I have one helper who has another job, so it may take me two weeks to finish a small job (go out by myself to lay traverse and get GPS shots, wait for him and go out with the total station, and draw it). So if I got one job a month, it would be plenty, until I can hire someone full-time. What else do you suggest I try?
Visit and leave cards at Title Companies and Realtors and Loan Officers at Banks and Credit Unions and Lawyers.
Some Surveyors are overloaded and will seek outside help.
Every area has it's own circumstances, but for me the key was twofold:
1. Have enough of a financial cushion to last a year without much income.
2. Have enough industry contacts to get a trickle of jobs started.
My first year I had a net profit of $13k, though that reflected substantial charge-offs for equipment, truck and office setup expenses. The regional economy wasn't strong at the time, which undoubtedly dampened gross income. Business ramped up steadily over the next five years, then went through a number of growth-and-retreat phases. Each growth phase has surpassed the last, at least so far.
NCSpiralGuy, post: 434667, member: 12287 wrote: I also hand my card to people so that they can contact me (whether for a survey or not). Once I handed someone a card and she said she needed a survey, but never called. I've left stacks of cards at doctors' offices
Every situation and market is unique...that said, I'm of the opinion that trying to build business by marketing to Harry Homeowner who might need a survey one time is getting on the express lane to the poorhouse.
Target developers, home builders, engineers, architects, attorneys who do a lot of real estate settlements (especially commercial), etc.. Aim to develop a business to business relationship with clients that need half a dozen or more surveys a year.
I started my business about six months ago and it's been steadily getting busier. Surprisingly most of my work has been from word of mouth. It started with one architect, he told his buddies and they told there engineers. Take really good care of everyone and word will spread.
Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
Talk with a sampling of other business people who might have need of your services. Ask about their frequency of need and what is important to them. By learning from those conversations you can determine a better approach to others in their line of work. Work smart first, then hard later.
NCSpiral,
I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm finding that the word of mouth clients, as well as, the industry contacts related leads seem to develop into something far more often than the Harry homeowner leads.
I've been getting alot of leads from both Thumbtack and Google Adwords but those are usually from home owners and they get scared away once you give them a quote. I'd almost recommend staying away from both of them except Adwords is kind of nice because it brings your website right to the 1st page of search results right away.
Gregg
Check out the local Chambers of Commerce, many times they hold networking events. When I was doing that, often I was the only Surveyor in attendance.
When I first started on my own in 2010 the economy was bad and I was in the same situation.
some things I did was.
1) run an add on craigslist but keep it simple I used something like
Low Overhead work from home Licensed Land Surveyor
2) Get a website also at first keep it simple. People for some reason people trust you more if you have one.
after about 30 days you will get calls ( once the search engines crawl the web and update data )
Wendell should be able to help you with setting it up if you need it.
both things had responses ( mainly price shoppers ) but I was able to buy groceries again.
Also after about 3 months I decided to buy google ad-words ( I limited the area to 50 miles radius and cost me about 75$ a month )
and I would get 1-3 jobs out of the campain for me it was worth it.
Just my suggestions hope it helps
A Harris, post: 434670, member: 81 wrote: Visit and leave cards at Title Companies and Realtors and Loan Officers at Banks and Credit Unions and Lawyers.
I'll try that. Do you mean lawyers in general, or just closing lawyers?
Some Surveyors are overloaded and will seek outside help.
I attend the monthly surveyors' meeting, and the other surveyors know that I'm willing to take some jobs if they're overloaded. They haven't given me any yet.
Paul Landau, post: 434781, member: 2526 wrote: Check out the local Chambers of Commerce, many times they hold networking events. When I was doing that, often I was the only Surveyor in attendance.
Will do. I don't know much about chambers of commerce, but there is one in town.
Eyott_Surveyor_Fred_MD, post: 434878, member: 2451 wrote: 2) Get a website also at first keep it simple. People for some reason people trust you more if you have one.
after about 30 days you will get calls ( once the search engines crawl the web and update data )
Wendell should be able to help you with setting it up if you need it.
The website has been up for a few months, but the only messages I've gotten from it are from spammers offering SEO and stuff. It's bilingual (English/Spanish), in case a local Spanish speaker needs a survey, and my card is trilingual (the third language is Hebrew in a Bible verse).
I know some will not like this...
But how about going to all the local surveyors, give them your card. Tell them some about yourself. And ask for referrals, if they are overflowing.
Talk about your "way of operating".
If they respect you, and appreciate you, you may get way more than you bargained for! Lot's of folks are tired these days.
N
Have you tried for little contracts at the town? One without a surveyor might help. Local engineers?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
^Sorry, I don't understand. Whom at the town would I talk with? One what without a surveyor?
I went to three banks (the one where my accounts are is between two other banks). At the first (my bank), the guy told me that usually the survey is done by the time he's asked about the loan, but occasionally he gets requests for someone to split off part of a parcel for his daughter, or something like that. That's what I wanted to hear, so I left him several cards. The second told me that that's handled at the corporate office, but she's from Nicaragua so we chatted a bit in Spanish. The third one told me flatly that he doesn't get asked about surveys.
Most everywhere, a survey is not ordered until the bank has secured the loan.
Be sure and talk with the person responsible for paying.
That person is the client and it it most important to do what the client needs.
The bank, realtor and others will usually ask for you to do less than is expected by your BOR.
I never rely upon a third party to be responsible for paying me, it is either the client or the closing agent.
Here is a tip - The Federal Government Fiscal Year ends September 30th. The last quarter is usually a very busy period for federal contracts. Find out what surveyors have federal IDIQ contracts and contact them. They will likely be overloaded with work come October 1st and need help completing jobs on time. Also, look on Fed Biz Ops for federal construction jobs being advertised in your area. Contact bidders about construction staking quotes. Many times federal jobs have small business subcontracting requirements.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
