I got a request from an outfit out of Virgina. The Patina Group. Initially I was glad they had my name, though I did not know how they got it. The way the conversation went I thought that they were going to send me the standard table A items that they wanted. That is how it sounded anyway. Then I get their list of "Survey Requirements", four pages later I get to table A. What a PITA. Their requirements go way beyond the standards (I know they are the MINIMUM standards), but there is a lot of this that a surveyor would not be the correct person to answer the question, let alone certify.
Anyway... anyone have experience with these guys? I assume someone has, because someone obviously educated them on what they want for an ALTA.
Quick search turned up the following:
1. Patina Restaurant Group with the linked site including a long list of restaurants across the country.
2. "Patina Group, Inc, is a US company which specializes in executing power, oil and gas service projects for Sub-Saharan African energy companies . . . With our headquarters in Houston, the heart of the Energy Capital of the world, we have ready access to and mutual collaborative ventures with global energy, engineering and trading companies."
In either case it appears you are dealing directly with the client. My guess would be that a large company has their own planning and development group including legal staff. Now your problem is getting to someone in the legal staff with the power and common sense to listen to the truth. Good luck trying to find this person and educate them to the capabilities of surveying.
Your second option is to determine what you could subcontract to other professions and have them certify. Third option is to get your insurance underwriter and the client legal eagle on the phone and educate both while requesting the insurance person to determine what is covered.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/j-kevin-humphrey/18/a29/b28
At a time when traditional roles are being restricted even further, Kevin is sometimes hesitant to identify himself solely as an Architect because it can be interpreted in a way that limits his true value as an agent experienced in all aspects of project production, procurement and as an experienced licensed professional. He is still searching for a term that can capture his experience with all aspects of the built environment and the respect he has earned from other professionals because of the knowledge he has in their respective fields.
I got one the other day from some broker , said I could not contact the buyer or owner . They wanted their name in the ALTA certification , wanted thier border . Penalties for being late . All for the low bid . Not going to happen . I played with them a couple days or so negotiating, then told them to find another sucker .
Stop pimping out surveyors . I refuse to work for these kind of companies . If everyone stopped working for them they would be out of business and it would funnel to the right surveyors in each state .
James WINS THE INTERNETS!! hilarious..
I can only add the last sentence, it's another gem.
Kevin started The Patina Group in order to fulfill a need for objective and effective professional services that allow clients to meet their varies project implementation goals.
So it seems that Patina is just a workaround for PITA. Clever!