DOT is pretty much our main client here and without them, I would probably be out of a job. Business wise, things are about the same. Still no work from our city or county survey contracts and DOT is pretty much like it always has been. Local roads are in pretty bad shape and need millions and millions of dollars of repair work but the city and county have no money to pay for it. Elected leaders are taking up a sales tax increase referendum to be placed on the next election ballot to raise money to pay for the work.
The worst start of the last few years... Don't know if this year is a fluke or the last few years were flukes, but it's definitely slower.
Buried and no end in site. Major industrial is blowing up and we are coming back closer to home finally. Forecasting a record year with work lined up through next year. It seems to be getting rolling again in our line of work. In the past 6 months probablY graded 7 million square foot + buildings and they are going vertical. We have been very fortunate recently.
It's up and down, but year over year I've consistently seen a 25-30% increase in billing since 2009, when I started on my own. I just ran a quick check for the first 5 months vs. first 5 months of 2011, and it is 33% up.
Me too. I've raised my rates 3 times since I started on my own in 2009, and it hasn't hurt me a bit. Just keep getting busier.
Steady. Haven't ever run out of something to do in 25 years.
We track the numbers carefully, so I know we are triple last year at this time. Almost all ALTA surveys with topography.
Ours is tailing off pretty quick. 2011 was a great year for us, but an anomaly in the current climate.
Solo business in 2011 doubled the previous year and 2012 even busier so far. Life is good.
> I don't have any hard numbers at the moment, but I'm guessing that I'm about 1/3 above last year at the same time. But, I'm like someone else posted, the phone was busy in March and April, and now it has fallen very silent. I have a few more jobs in the hopper, so I won't get stressy for a couple of more weeks... That's plenty of time for people to call.
>
> Carl
Exactly the same here but still down about 25% from the heydays of 2007- 2008
Jim
Either I'm pulling my hair out or I'm watching paint dry.
Worse, employed last year, unemployed this year......
MUCH, much worse. First time in our corporate history that we had to lay off key people. People who had MANY years with the firm. We are hopeing to be able to recall some in the next few weeks, but that won't help the last month they have been gone.
Surveying is a difficult business to be in during an economy like this. We are at the head of the "Food Chain" in business. If no one has funds or incentive to develope a project, thetre is no need to call a surveyor.
worse....heading to get food stamps and a free cell phone....:-(
better and looking even mo better
Far far worse, if that's possible. But it could be the area I live in. House is listed and hopefully will sell soon - before I give it back to the bank. Local politics & croonyism have all but killed the potential of this town to grow, given it's perfect location and weather. Time to move on.....
Kudos to all you "better" folks. Hope it's real.
Better by at least 25%. While I have no hard #s to back this up I know we are much busier this year and have been since it hit 2012.
...or it could be that I also rub potential clients the wrong way. 🙂
You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends but only lawyers and prostitutes can rub their clients.
I cannot catch up with work. We do a lot of environmental permitting and every time there is a lull in the work, the boards and commissions tighten up their regulations or policies.
MUCH better, this time last year it was a stretch to get 40 hours. Now it is more likely that if you only get forty, you took a couple days off. Backlog is huge and growing. Residential has taken off at least for our clients.