Today I had a request to do some staking in a condo plat recorded a few years ago which was a replat of another subdivision recorded in 2011 by another company. The first thing that raised a flag for me was the plat contained zero information on what corners were recovered or set, absolutely nothing but detailed information on finish floor elevations and dimensions of all the condos being built. Being a replat I wanted to be reasonably certain that none of the original plat dimensions had been changed and so I called the surveyor who I've never spoken with before to ask about control. Three times I called and each time his secretary would tell me he's on the phone and will call me right back. Here we are at the end of the day, and crickets. Is this acceptable? I did my work today based on the original subdivision plat and everything appears to be right, far as I can tell, but it's the unknown and lack of any useful survey information on this condo plat that irks me. The lack of response just feels like adding insult to injury. Not the first time I've been ducked like this and it bothers me.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Guys are busy so I wouldn't expect to hear back the same day, but probably by the end of the following day. Anyway, I don't think there's an obligation, just a professional courtesy.
It would take me some time to pull up my old information and prepare to talk coherently with you about something that is hot to you but very cold to me. That being said, I would probably drop you a text, voicemail, email to let you know that I am aware of your call and will call you back......fairly soon.
If you tried to call 3x in one day I'd say that is a bit much.
condo plats are likely different in each state. I have seen condominiums that describe limits by meets and bounds legals. I have seen some that call for corners. I have seen boundary and easement plats prepared separately from the condominium plan and plats. Condominiums are different than normal boundaries and have both vertical and horizontal limits. If they call to set a corner/pin, then they should set it.
Check the description of the condominium
"...Not the first time I’ve been ducked like this and it bothers me." Maybe its you? 🤣
That in of itself is what had me thrown for a loop. No survey information, nothing in the legend, no bearings and distances, no statements in the notes, nothing to assure me that nothing in the boundaries has changed since the original plat. Left to assume that is the case, my spidey senses go into overdrive. I basically have to ignore the condo plat and go with the original and cross my fingers. I really, really don't like doing that. A five minute conversation would have gone a long way for me.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Around here everything is an emergency with winter closing in. We have a number of pedestals that were placed in the foot print of new condo foundations a decade ago and have to be moved and it falls on me to tell them where to move them and temps are already falling below freezing at night. Developer needs to begin pouring concrete yesterday. With no control available in the development to me, maybe you can see why this might be an issue. No pins, no centerline mons, no nothing to get me started. Everything being staked by the developer is being done by this outfit using their proprietary control.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Oh yea, it's definitely me. Hardly the first time I've run into other surveyors completely unwilling to talk about what they did and I can only assume they had good reason. Taking the 5th seems to be the 'in' thing to do these days.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Always remember some day the shoe will be on the other foot and they will wish they had been cooperative.
Around here everything is an emergency with winter closing in. We have a number of pedestals that were placed in the foot print of new condo foundations a decade ago and have to be moved and it falls on me to tell them where to move them and temps are already falling below freezing at night. Developer needs to begin pouring concrete yesterday. With no control available in the development to me, maybe you can see why this might be an issue. No pins, no centerline mons, no nothing to get me started. Everything being staked by the developer is being done by this outfit using their proprietary control.
This sounds like stuff you should have noticed as part of researching the job...
It's me. I dream of going to Alaska.
You've caught me... dreaming.
Nate
"This sounds like stuff you should have noticed as part of researching the job…"
That's brilliant. Why didn't I think of that.
My final thoughts on the subject. Just an observation. The sketchier the work of the surveyor, the more likely they are going to be unwilling to discuss or entertain any questions. Silence speaks volumes.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Expecting a same day call back might have been a little much. But it seems that 3 days has now passed - still no response? That's not good.
I recall that communication between surveyors was a special point the OK board was honing in on when I was there. They characterized it as a responsibility of the latter to seek out the former surveyor. I don't recall much talk of the responsibility of the former to respond.
Crickets. All I wanted was to confirm that none of the boundaries inside the subdivision had been changed and I was okay relying on the original plat they'd replatted, but I guess that was asking too much. I've had similar experiences before where other surveyors will just flat out ignore any attempt on my part to communicate with them about something they've platted where I've run in to issues. To be honest I find it rather disheartening as far as the profession goes and it has made me more cynical with regard to some others in this profession.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
You may want to order a title report to make sure you are working off what is of record.
And, why do you think the surveyor should have set corners for a condominium when the condo owner may not own the land?
I'm not sure a title report would have helped much. The (complete and total) lack of monumentation within the bounds of condo plat was between the municipality's right of way and an adjacent utility easement that the developer was preparing to pour a foundation right up to the limits of. Builder insisting that my client relocate when it was the developer and their surveyors that placed us there in the first place under a joint trench agreement. I ended up bringing control in from outside and reinventing the wheel because the developer's survey outfit that put us there in the first place, refuses to communicate. My conclusion being that even the slightest hint of any liability, their standard response is to clam up and not cooperate, rather than communicate and find the most practical solution so everyone can get on their merry way. Situation is resolved with no help from them and I have many other fish to fry.
End of rant. Carry on.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
No, it isn't acceptable. We should call back our fellow surveyors.
The other Surveyor has no obligation to return your call but should extend the Professional courtesy of speaking with a fellow Professional.