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Advice from surveyors....

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(@rmsiepel)
Posts: 13
Active Member Registered
Topic starter
 

Fellow surveyors,

I am reaching out because my brother, essentially the other half of my company, went into cardiac arrest on Thursday and is currently intubated.?ÿ I believe is survival chances to be quite low as this is case with cardiac events of this nature.?ÿ I am a new business owner and have done some planning for just such an event (mainly, I was concerned about one of us falling ill to COVID, I did not expect this.)

Since this past year has been rather busy, I was able to acquire a Trimble r8 m1 as a base and rover setup.?ÿ I also was able to acquire a Trimble 5603 in which I have to use Bluetooth (Parani sd1000) which I understand not to be waterproof.?ÿ

I currently have a 3 week backlog which would have been manageable for the 2 of us, but not for me as a solo operation.

I have two questions and perhaps someone on here might have some advice or has been in this situation.

One, would it be unusual for me to TRY to farm out the existing work that I have to other survey companies?

Two, what is good robot for a one man operation that does mortgage surveys??ÿ Can I buy one used? Where would be a good place to buy this??ÿ Understand, I will not be able to break the bank on something.?ÿ

?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 5:18 am
(@brad-ott)
Posts: 6185
Illustrious Member Registered
 
Posted by: @rmsiepel

I currently have a 3 week backlog which would have been manageable for the 2 of us, but not for me as a solo operation.

I am sorry to hear of your brotherƒ??s health.

These past two years have been a relatively uncomfortable adjustment for my solo operation to adjust and manage my as well as my clients estimated turnaround timeframes from. 6-8 weeks to now 6-8 months. ?ÿI am finally relaxing again a bit and have become okay with this new reality.

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 5:24 am
(@learner)
Posts: 181
Estimable Member Registered
 

Search this forum for used robots.?ÿ There have been several posted lately.?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 5:27 am
(@flga-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2)
Posts: 7403
Illustrious Member Registered
 
Posted by: @rmsiepel

One, would it be unusual for me to TRY to farm out the existing work that I have to other survey companies?

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot subcontract work to another firm. There are others here more qualified than me with respect to your equipment questions. ?????ÿ

?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 5:35 am
(@brad-ott)
Posts: 6185
Illustrious Member Registered
 
Posted by: @flga-2-2

There is absolutely no reason why you cannot subcontract work to another firm.

Correct. ?ÿOr, find a way to manage/adjust turn around timeframes from 3 weeks to 6 weeks and then you can keep the entire fee for yourself and donƒ??t have to trust/rely on others to meet your deadlines, etc.

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 7:20 am
(@wendell)
Posts: 5780
Admin
 

Man, that's rough. So sorry to hear about your brother.

If you want to easily view the equipment for sale here, you can go to the Recent tab and then select "For Sale" in the Topic Prefix dropdown at the top of the list of posts. Maybe you'll be able to find something that works for you in there.

https://share.getcloudapp.com/Qwu5wG7J

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 7:35 am
(@holy-cow)
Posts: 25292
 

I have subcontracted work for two other firms in the past on short notice.?ÿ This is a good option to explore quickly.

You may simply have to explain to some clients what has occurred and that you will not be able to meet the intended dead line.?ÿ Give them the option to use a different firm, preferably one you recommend, this time but ask they contact you again for future work.

I had this come up when my Dad had a massive heart attack followed by nine days of hanging around the hospital until he died.?ÿ Then the funeral took a few more days off the calendar.?ÿ Meanwhile, my income stream had a significant interruption.?ÿ?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 8:55 am
(@brad-ott)
Posts: 6185
Illustrious Member Registered
 

@holy-cow yup, similar to my situation two years ago while we were in the hospital with my wifeƒ??s mother every day for about a month until she died. ?ÿAlthough, I did not have to refer work away or sub anything out and our income did not suffer. ?ÿ50% retainer fees on some bigger jobs helped at the time.

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 9:07 am
(@warrenward)
Posts: 457
Honorable Member Registered
 

After 17 years solo, I suggest a form email to those waiting explaining there will be delays and the client may choose to wait, or release the contract and seek the services of a list of professional s that you provide. If you get a robot get reflectorless.

?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 9:45 am
(@joe-b)
Posts: 90
Trusted Member Registered
 

I am very sorry to hear about your brother and his condition.

I don't think it would be too unusual to sub out work to other surveyors.?ÿ Like others have said, you can just relinquish the contract.?ÿ But, if you are trying to hold onto the contracts, you can sub out some of the work.?ÿ I have heard of it being done.?ÿ I think many people would be understanding of your situation.?ÿ It could lead to a good relationship with other surveyors in your area, and you may get the chance to repay the favor in the future.?ÿ

So, to answer your question, I have heard of it being done before for various reasons.

Good luck.

Joe

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 10:48 am
(@mark-mayer)
Posts: 3363
Famed Member Registered
 

Wishing the best for your brother.

First thing to do - business wise -?ÿ is to contact the clients who you have made commitments to and explain the situation. Most will understand and make allowances. It is certainly OK to sub out work if that is an option.?ÿ

As far as a good robot to work with - you have a 5603 for the short term. That is a good robot. Later, if you have a steady book of work, you can make monthly payments on a longer term solution. There is no need to mess around in the bargain bin.

If your work is all mortgage surveys perhaps you do not need a robot at all. Or even a data collector.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ

 
Posted : 12/09/2021 11:21 am
(@rmsiepel)
Posts: 13
Active Member Registered
Topic starter
 

Thanks everyone for all of your advice and kind words.?ÿ I have already started thinning some of my clients, problem clients, in other words.?ÿ Sent some work to other firms and ended up talking to other surveyors that I never even knew were in the area.?ÿ It is nice to see that even though we are all competition, we are friendly competition.?ÿ?ÿ

 
Posted : 13/09/2021 5:47 pm
(@rmsiepel)
Posts: 13
Active Member Registered
Topic starter
 

@warrenward how do you measure to a back line without anyone holding a tape.?ÿ A wheel is possible, but what if it is wooded??ÿ Sorry for the dumb question. ????

 
Posted : 13/09/2021 5:51 pm
(@holy-cow)
Posts: 25292
 

@rmsiepel?ÿ

Get innovative.?ÿ Very rarely use a tape for anything other than rough searches for monuments in town and getting?ÿ dimensions on a house over basement or crawl space for elevation certificates.?ÿ Haven't had a call for a mortgagee title inspection in several years.

For MTI's I have used a total station and turning points that are rebar over which I can slip a prism.?ÿ It may take a couple of turns to get to your final destination, but it can be done.

 
Posted : 13/09/2021 8:17 pm
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