I was contacted this morning by the owner of a 10-acre rural property who wanted a proposal for a boundary survey.?ÿ I spent a couple of hours doing some research and saw what looks like a troublesome creek boundary forming the county line.?ÿ (The AP map from one county shows a "settlement line" along the creek at an adjoining property, and the AP map from the adjacent county overlaps substantially along the creek.)?ÿ I didn't go as far as examining deeds, but I worked up a number based on anticipated conditions, added a substantial contingency for dealing with conflicts, and told the owner that a rough estimate was $13,000 including county fees ($1200-ish).?ÿ He responded several hours later telling me that his second highest quote was $2,800.
I don't know if he's going to get a low-quality survey, or if the low-bid surveyor is going to rue the day he took the job, but either way I'm happy not to be involved.
Being a financial genius is not part of the surveying examination.?ÿ Nuff said.
Perhaps you would be willing to follow up with this guy in a month or so. I'd like to know how this goes.?ÿ
Your estimate of $13K sounds very reasonable to me for a potentially problematic survey. It appears as if the others failed to do any preliminary research what-so-ever.?ÿ At least yo can sleep better knowing it will be a headache you don't have to suffer.
There are "Low Ballers" everywhere!?ÿ I bid a 13 acre commercial ALTA for $21K. Another reputable surveyor quoted the same job for $20K. A regional "Low Baller" got the job for the unfathomable amount $2,600.
Pick two
Really it's pick 1 because quality shouldn't be negotiable.
Have this John Ruskin quote on my office wall.
you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay
too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you
bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The
common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a
lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well
to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will
have enough to pay for something better. There is hardly anything in
I work up a quick number in my head of 80k, figure it's going to go for 25-30k and don't bother responding. It goes for 12k. ?????ÿ
Next one comes up and I really want it, bid a tight everything goes right number of 45k, it goes for 10k. My regret is that I wasted time bidding.?ÿ
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