Project Back from the Dead
October of last year, out-of-town new client needs an ALTA, and naturally they need it fast. Given the short schedule, I send a lump sum price with an appropriate premium, they agree, and I get to work. A bit over halfway through, their deal falls apart, they have me stand down, no indication this will resume. I bill 50% of the agreed amount, but I don’t have much work product to give them. Either way, they pay.. the end.
Today, same client returns.. Their deal is back on. Their first question, will I complete the survey for the balance of the original contract? I know that I cannot, but I am struggling how best to respond to this, and how to fairly quote the work again. I would need to repeat a lot of what I’ve done already, but then there’s a fair bit I don’t. Deed plots and research would still be good, I expect control will check out fine, but I’ll need to get refresh and get reacquainted with the research and will want to retie the boundary.
If the break in time were significant, or it was a different client, would be no question we’re starting from 0. But the same client, who already paid quite a bit, just a few months later? How best can I reasonably explain that we can’t just slot right back in and wrap it up on the same schedule and fee?
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