Everyone has their own stories. It happens all too frequently. The client contacts you to do a survey. What they tell you or email you or mail to you amounts to about ten percent of the true goal of their survey need. Somewhere along the line you learn about the other ninety percent of their desire.
Maybe it's a new battle with a new neighbor.
Maybe it's an old battle with an old neighbor.
Maybe it's to outfox some bureaucratic BS that has been laid on them.
Maybe it's to pull a fast one on a lender, but on a different property.
Maybe it's to quietly divest part of an elderly parent's estate without alerting the other heirs.
Maybe it's to build a fence before the new neighbor moves in and claims what the previous owner had been claiming.
Maybe it's to ..................................... There are a thousand variations.
What bites is how they don't tell you squat until you have completed everything. Then they give you the third degree, asking all sorts of questions that you may or may not have the answer for, then accusing you of not doing what they thought you were contracted to do. You did precisely what they asked you to do, but you didn't necessarily do everything they were hoping to get. And, it's all your fault. It doesn't matter whether there is a very clear written contract or not. They will play their little game. In some cases they will attempt to demand you return and do whatever it takes to be able to answer whatever it is they thought they were going to get and add nothing to the current invoice.
If this hasn't happened to you, you haven't been at it very long. Or, you have been extremely lucky.
Occasionally, the exact opposite happens. They warn you about all sorts of things, such as the idiot, PITA neighbor who the Hell's Angels fear. You prepare for the worst. Triple check everything you do. Fret over what may happen. Then, before you finish, both the client and neighbor are watching you work while they sip ice tea and swap jokes. Once the final corners are set or found, they stroll over and both mutter something about, "That's right where I thought it was."
Shut up! Just shut up already!
Got my dander and hackles all up, just readin it
Aw fill your pain!
[SARCASM]Dear Client,
Your project was competed and the invoice was paid a while ago.
Please refer to the date on your paid invoice.
I am currently busy with other clients at this time and will return your call and attend to your next project shortly.
Should you have any legal questions about problems with neighbors contact and discuss this with an attorney and call me back.
Your business is appreciated.
ty
A Harris[/SARCASM]
This may be in sarcasm font.
IMVHO, I mean every word and have told clients the same.
I can not count the number of clients that will not give me a copy of their deed. They do not want me to know the details included about who where and how how the terms were justified and most of those times, the actual title is vague.
Clients actually believe we will lie for them
:rofl:
Those sorts also have a knack to engage, get serious in terms of work required and "I'll get back to you".
6, 9 months later they ring and expect you (summarily demand) your on site attention in 2 days time, or some ridiculous short notice.
They've probably festered until it busts, or "it was so important" they'd forgotten until now ie then out of the woods they come guns blazing.
Happens too much. Just had a job like that. A simple lot line location. Not much to it.
Showed up to do some leg work for control, client wasnt home and BAM. neighbor came out screaming at me ready to go back for her gun and blow me away.
Client came home a bit later and explained everything....a little late.
The job had had been ordered by her attorney who failed to mention any of this battle or why they wanted it. He waltzed into my office a few days later and I told him my gripe.
Reminds me of the "church" survey I'm currently working on with the tenant lady from "Throw Momma From The Train". None of them wanted to tell me about her until I met her...
btw...update: We were out there last week; the house is empty and all but one horse and a jack are gone. They were put up in a corral and had some hay. We ran them some water in their tank so the electricity is still on.
No sign of Little Miss Sunshine....
paden cash, post: 392565, member: 20 wrote: lady from "Throw Momma From The Train"
[MEDIA=youtube]Q9g9XeRMZM0[/MEDIA]
paden cash, post: 392565, member: 20 wrote: No sign of Little Miss Sunshine....
Frieeeeeend! God spoke to me last night and told me that my lands should not whither. I was shown a vision of an exclusive gated enclave with temples of three story stucco and cheezy brass coach lights and fake stone!
I hear ya' . Having clients disclose concerns after you are underway is the worst. When someone calls for a survey, my very first question is, what is the purpose of the survey. If their answer isn't clear or they say something vague like "because I want to know where my boundaries are" I ask a follow up question or two. If folks are resistant to give an answer or their answer doesn't make sense, or they act like it's none of your business, then you know something is up. I also write their stated purpose into the contract. But even with all of this, strange details can emerge that they should have told you to begin with. It's for this reason that I also like to deal with the actual client whenever possible rather than an attorney or real estate agent or something. There is nothing like talking to the actual person paying for the survey to get the flavor of the situation. Another thing is to insist on actually talking to them on the phone, many folks want to handle everything by emails flinging back and forth, but you can get a better picture of the situation with a conversation.
I learned that lesson very quickly after becoming licensed. When talking with a new client or an existing client with a new project, I always delve into the issues of "what is the purpose for the survey", "what objectives do you have for this work", etc. No one likes surprises after you have executed the contract and set the price 😉
