It seems to me, after reading the ALTA standards of 2011, that when the client sends the formal request for an ALTA that the ALTA standards become a contract in that it details the responsibilities of both the surveyor and the client. We are in a situation where in the eleventh hour of the project banks, insurers, and other corporate entities are chiming in and requesting an additional 10 items from table A to be certified. Closing is scheduled for July 29th and of course everyone is appalled that we asked for more money, since the request would require additional visits to the site to locate the objects designated by these added items. I am contemplating telling them that we have a contract and we have fulfilled it and if they really want these other items added, we should cancel the initial contract and negotiate a new one.
Spot on!! This happens all the time. We ask "Do you have additional lender requirements?", They say no, Standard alta, no table A.
That is what we prepair and scope in our contract. Anything extra, outside of the original scope causes an additional service contract with additional scope and fee.
Most times though our crews typically collect enough additional data in the initial work that additional table A items don't require an additional trip to the site. Especially if its a long ways from home.
Good Luck
Ditto. Someone on the receiving end should have known something about the standards, although I make it a point to have them download and read it, especially with respect to table A items before we do a proposal.
> It seems to me, after reading the ALTA standards of 2011, that when the client sends the formal request for an ALTA that the ALTA standards become a contract in that it details the responsibilities of both the surveyor and the client.
You are correct. It is a contract. And they know that. Do not be fooled by the alligator tears. Stick to your guns.
> We are in a situation where in the eleventh hour of the project banks, insurers, and other corporate entities are chiming in and requesting an additional 10 items from table A to be certified. Closing is scheduled for July 29th and of course everyone is appalled that we asked for more money, since the request would require additional visits to the site to locate the objects designated by these added items.
You are dealing with people who make a living out of cajoling others into giving out free service, while never doing any such thing themselves. Stick to your guns.
> I am contemplating telling them that we have a contract and we have fulfilled it and if they really want these other items added, we should cancel the initial contract and negotiate a new one.
Better to do the extra work time and materials rather than start from scratch, I think. But yes, you absolutely have the right to be paid. Stick to your guns.
Some years ago I attended a Walt Robillard seminar in which he related some stories of Surveyors doing stuff they shouldn't have or doing it for little or no money. At the end of each anecdote he asked, and answered, "Why? Because Surveyors want to be loved". There was no other good business or professional reason to fold up, so it must have been a puppy-like need to be loved. Don't be that guy. Surveying is a profession, but it is also a business. Stick to you guns. You have a contract and you have fulfilled it. If they want more service they can have it, for an additional fee. That's business.
You have fulfilled your contractual obligations, or perhaps saying you will fulfill them.
I occasionally receive "comments" concerning a "completed" survey from entities other than my client and after reviewing them, if they are outside of what was in the contract my first question is "who will be paying for these revisions?" That usually is the end of it. But yes, as with any contract, extra items are just that, extra which comes with a fee. Stick to your guns 😉
> Some years ago I attended a Walt Robillard seminar in which he related some stories of Surveyors doing stuff they shouldn't have or doing it for little or no money. At the end of each anecdote he asked, and answered, "Why? Because Surveyors want to be loved". There was no other good business or professional reason to fold up, so it must have been a puppy-like need to be loved. Don't be that guy. Surveying is a profession, but it is also a business. Stick to you guns. You have a contract and you have fulfilled it. If they want more service they can have it, for an additional fee. That's business.
Frankly, I don't care if they call me everything but a white man as long as their check clears.