TURNING DOWN WORK

I turn down enough work every month to keep another crew busy. 100% of it is from either private individuals or engineers.

IF I were young and wanted to choke every bit of work into the hopper that was available, I could easily. I've done that in years past. It is simply not worth it.

My criteria for turning work away is generally the prospective client. People that don't know what they want or need and are overly concerned with the time and cost need not call.

In my old age I've gotten a sixth sense about folks. Some folks won't ever be happy because someone told them they need a survey before something else can happen. Those folks will never be happy and the cost will always be too much.

And in the last 10 years or so it seems engineering firms aren't looking for good surveyors...they're looking for someone that wants to invest their accounts receivable in an engineering firm. They want the topo quick so they can turn in some functional submittal. Then you get paid 14 months later with the retainage. I avoid them like the plague.

Be choosey. Pick the work you like and can profit from. Charge according to your liability in a survey, and charge a little more than the next guy. You don't EVER want to be the cheapest.

0.5% maybe. Too busy or too far away from office. Usually out of county jobs get turned down.
I have found that if a surveyor sticks to the territory that he knows he is a wwwwaaayy better off.

"You don't EVER want to be the cheapest."

AMEN!!!

I turn down about half the work I could get....I took my name out of the book because I let someone else have the price shopping clients. I work for those that pay well and are timely with payments. I refuse to work for "pay when paid" engineers or anyone that wants longer than a 30 day payment term. New clients are generally 50% retainer upfront.

Generally I accept work only by referral. That saves so much grief.

If someone gets my number somehow and says, "I have a lot in the foothills I need surveyed and how much will it cost" then I politely decline.

If I get a bad vibe, and it does happen, then I politely decline. I'm pretty good at sniffing out trouble.

I turned down a job today as a matter of fact. It was too far away. I had set up a meeting at my office and they called wanting me to come to them. I would waste a day just to price a job I might not get.

Engineering firms only want topo. They want to piggy-back your invoice with theirs. No dice. Everyone wants autocad ready info. I don't use AutoCad. I turn that work down.

I don't do construction stake-out either. Don't like it. I've done plenty of it but still can't get into it.

I prefer boundary retracement. That's what a survey license allows me to do. I like to take on the tough jobs and the battles between land owners.

I turn down abut 2-5 jobs a week.

A. 10%
B. 60%
C. 5%
D. areas are known for being a huge can of worms 25%

I just went solo in March and wasn't sure if I would Be able to turn anything down at first. But I've been busier than I thought I would. The majority of the work I've turned down was due to not being able to meet the clients deadline. I've also turned down some sketchy clients/projects as well.

> I would be interested in knowing what percentage (rough estimate) of jobs you guys turn down and why? I am talking about jobs that are yours to do if you want to.

I wouldn't say I turn the work down, it's more like the client won't work with my terms and scope.

> A. Don't get a good vibe from client.
If I don't get a good vibe; I ask for all of the money up front, as a retainer. And also let them know that it could go up, if things get ugly.

> B. Too busy to fit it in your schedule.
I can put you on my schedule, if you'd like, but it could be a few weeks.

> C. You don't want to do that type of work.
I'm not real fond of construction staking; but I do work for a few good clients that are contractors.

> D. ________(fill in the blank)
>
> What is your typical response to potential client for passing on the work?

I try to let all of my possible clients; that surveyors are professionals and that they should expect a professional service.

> I turn down approximately 5% split evenly between A,B and C.

I probably don't get 20% of the work I am asked to do. The reason is; they find someone to do it cheaper. The other 80% understand what a professional will do for them.

My most common reason for turning down/referring off projects is because I simply cannot effectively complete them. I'm solo and live in an area that is a semi-rural/suburban mix, and I just can't do "mountain jobs" as well as a company with a crew can. It's that simple.

So, for your questions:

A. Don't get a good vibe from client. Very rare here. Worst one I have is a contractor client/friend that doesn't like to pay quickly
B. Too busy to fit it in your schedule. I'm not THAT busy yet. Getting busier, but I usually give them a fair timed estimate and try to start it before I said I would.
C. You don't want to do that type of work. I don't get called for road stake-out and engineering type jobs, so it's a non-factor. I do a lot of lot corner finds for fences and a lot of boundary line revisions, etc.
D. ________(fill in the blank) Elevation certificates. I don't want to do them anymore and there is a company in the next town over that they have an LS basically dedicated to them. They send me all of their little lot surveys and I send them all my Elev Certs. All the surveyors in my area work well together and send something that we can't get to, or don't deal with normally to someone that can.

Carl

I walk away from many opportunities anymore because I simply don't have the desire to punish myself that much. I can only deliver a certain amount of quality work per week. I could do a whole lot more really crappy work in the same time, but I'm not going to. As an example, I spent a couple extra hours today at no charge to the client because I know I goofed yesterday. Odds are no one would notice for about the next 20 years. But, I would know and that is all that matters. People who are always behind the 8-ball will let that little problem slide.