How often do you turn clients down for survey jobs? I was just wondering.?ÿ
Failure to pay or slow pay on previous projects and unrealistic timelines are my top reasons. I've turned down jobs from existing clients because the projects were located in an area of the state that I am not comfortable with surveying in. I did help that client find a local surveyor to get that project completed.
Edit to say it doesn't happen very often.
Just did, he wanted to get an easement into an isolated parcel. Wanted to meet on-site tomorrow and is in a big hurry.?ÿ
He says the family needs the money selling the piece will bring.?ÿ
The parcel is in a messy area.?ÿ
Time frame/payment/legal issues with the land.?ÿ
An automatic turn & run is a caller wanting, "just one line"...?ÿ other reasons are (1) unreasonable deadlines (previously stated), (2) history of payment (previously stated), (3) reputation of the potential client, and (4) refusing to sign a Professional Services Agreement that specifies Scope, Obligations (both parties), Deliverables, and Cost/Payment.
All the above.?ÿ Plus, being so far behind on current projects that the potential caller would be better off to check out other options before calling me back to say, "put me on the end of your list, please".
There are very few potential clients for whom I would refuse to do work, but they do exist.?ÿ Most of those are expecting me to get paid after someone else puts money in their hands.?ÿ Maybe for a friend but not in the general case.
Immediate turn away if the conversation starts with: "I need my lot surveyed and how much will it cost."
Any residential survey (I'm strictly commercial ALTA surveys).?ÿ
Any survey broker - I don't need them and I don't need the aggravation.
Failure to pay or slow pay on previous projects and unrealistic timelines are my top reasons. I've turned down jobs from existing clients because the projects were located in an area of the state that I am not comfortable with surveying in. I did help that client find a local surveyor to get that project completed.
Edit to say it doesn't happen very often.
What are some examples of areas that a surveyor would commonly be uncomfortable surveying in?
What are some examples of areas that a surveyor would commonly be uncomfortable surveying in?
All areas.?ÿ One man's meat is another's poison.
Surveyors have different specialties and domains of competence.
I will not touch a certain subdivision of 160 acres that was created only on paper.?ÿ Several thousand lots, curvy streets and no data from which to decide where Lot 999 might have been intended to be.?ÿ Very few fools have come along in 60 years to buy a lot or two.
In another case, a horrible subdivision along a lake had a plat so terrible the local surveyor for many years simply started laying out lots as best he could, ignoring the plat other than to make sure no property overlapped into some farmer's pasture.?ÿ I have not been called to do a survey there, but, I would decline, if asked.
Anyone who says that they need it, "ASAP, this week if possible, no matter what the cost".?ÿ Said before I even look at anything or given an estimate.
@jd00 Probably should have said that there are types of surveys I'm not comfortable with. For example I'm licensed in my state (Texas) to perform a survey along the coast but I have absolutely no experience doing coastal surveys as I live approximately 9 hours away from the Gulf of Mexico. If one of my clients wants to purchase a house on the beach I'm going to help them find a surveyor from that area to do that survey rather than do it myself. I might see if they would be willing to let me tag along just to get the experience but wouldn't charge the client for that learning experience. Another example is I wouldn't try to do a gradient boundary survey without bringing in a surveyor familiar with the process. Biggest thing is I'm not going to go into an area I'm not familiar with unless I'm given enough time (which is usually not available) to do the job in a way that I'm willing to stand behind..
All the above including the occasional client that comes to the office, then sits down and proceeds to explain to me precisely how I will be doing his job. Even if he's close, he's out the door. It only seems to end in grief down the road and everything I do will require lengthy explanation that I probably won't be paid for.?ÿ
I've received three calls today for possible work.?ÿ One lady went off the deep end when I provided a very reasonable estimate.?ÿ She has little money to spend and really doesn't want to spend that.?ÿ She really wants the troublesome neighbor to go away.?ÿ Another fellow wasn't surprised by the estimate, but thought the time delay was excessive.?ÿ I should do his immediately.?ÿ The third fellow understood.?ÿ I'm guessing he had already spoken with one or two other survey firms.
I haven't even returned a call from a woman who was given my name by another firm.?ÿ She lives in one of those little towns that was supposed to grow to become a city.?ÿ One hundred and forty years of very few surveys will lead to an expensive survey.?ÿ If she didn't like their estimate and time frame, she definitely will not like mine.
When they expect me to replace an old, existing monument with a brand new one, .?ÿ I just don't understand it.?ÿ Who do they think they are!?ÿ Really, the nerve of some people.
