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Ring Ring -ish
Not a ring ring, but a You’ve Got Mail.
I did the original surveying for a subdivision (circa 2005). The POA allows for the consolidation of adjoining lots so that property owners will then only be charged a single POA dues.
September 7th, 2022 I exchange emails with an individual about taking 4 lots he owns and consolidating to make two lots. I explain the process, cost and time needed to do so.
Today (an hour ago), I get an email that is like he is contacting me for the first time about the subject. I just copy and paste the earlier email and say “Per Sept. 7 email…”. He also wants to know if I can get it completed by the December 31 deadline that is the turn over date for the association dues for the next year.
Assuming I had nothing already in the schedule. December 31 is a Saturday, so none of the county offices needed will be open. Friday, December 30, all those offices are also closed for the day per holiday schedule. That leaves the rest of today (28th) and tomorrow (29th) to do all of the required steps (1- site visit and confirm corners 2- prepare drawing 3- ship to client for signature (he’s out of state) 4- get client to ship back 5- get over to county judge-executive office for signature (two counties away) 6- get over to clerk’s office for filing).
For me, it is just a matter of – oh well, I can’t get it in the time you want. But I would be happy to do it in the time frame I can manage.
How about you? Are you the just do whatever it takes to get it done to have another happy client type, charge more and get it done type, or the that is entirely to little notice can’t do it type?
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9 Replies
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A lot consolidation in Oregon would take months. Applications, approvals at every step.
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Once upon a time that is how I tackled every new opportunity. Not so much anymore. Stress is a killer. Avoid as much of it as you can. Keep yourself fed and sheltered, but don’t waste what you have.
About 1990 I had a call on a Thursday afternoon for a job that had to be completed prior to the following Tuesday morning in a town where I had no prior survey experience and 60 miles from my office. I said yes, I will get it done for you.
Friday was Good Friday and the courthouse was closing at noon. Grabbed a helper with a little experience at the time. Finished finding all there was to find in the courthouse at 11:59. I was advised to stop in at the hardware store in the town and ask if they knew anything that might help me. First stop was the hardware store. The owner of 40 years in the same spot really did know a little bit of everything because my site was directly across the street from his store. He dug around in various drawers and pulled out a survey of his property from about 10 years earlier that had been performed by a solid professional surveyor. Found every pin shown to use as control for my job. Set the necessary corners and headed home. Drafted it by hand, myself, and hand delivered to the clients a few minutes prior to the auction of the tract I had surveyed. I felt like a hero. At the time, every extra bit of income had a dedicate home (food, mortgage payment, etc,). Today, I would probably end up donating it to a worthy cause.
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Once upon a time that is how I tackled every new opportunity. Not so much anymore. Stress is a killer. Avoid as much of it as you can. Keep yourself fed and sheltered, but don’t waste what you have.
Amen
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@norman-oklahoma I figured there would be several areas where the answer would be “Sure, we can have it for you by December 31, 2023 if we start on it now.”
Here, it would actually technically be feasible if the client were a local. I could get his signature on the way to the judge-executives office which I can just stop in and as long as the judge-executive is in he’ll sign off (all that is required for property in the county).
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Here, it would actually technically be feasible if the client were a local. I could get his signature on the way to the judge-executives office which I can just stop in and as long as the judge-executive is in he’ll sign off (all that is required for property in the county).
Here, it would be technically feasible. It would be a “no new lot lines” plan, so no signatures required other than the PLS, and record the plan at the registry.
However, my answer would be “Sorry, per my September email, I have a 2 month backlog of work I am already committed to do. I can have it ready for you sometime in February, if you sign the contract and pay the retainer by Friday.” These last-minute, “hurry-up I need it now” types are often slow to pay the invoice after the work is done. Over the years I’ve learned to worry less about leaping to provide instant gratification for the potential new client, especially when the established clients are waiting for stuff.
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Wait a minute….. He wants to basically get rid of two building lots to save on POA fees?
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@gary_g
I hope everyone has a great day; I know I will! -
Any kind of boundary action here would require a public comment period, so short answer, no dice.
Willy -
Wait a minute….. He wants to basically get rid of two building lots to save on POA fees?
Correct Gary. Every time I get this request I question the client as to if they really want to do that. Once they do so, there is a POA stipulation that no division can occur. Sometimes it makes sense (mcmansion on one lot and detached boat garage on another). Sometimes it makes no sense to me, but they may have their reasons.
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