New policy here: Got the perennial query in response to a survey proposal I sent out: "Can you do just the one line we're having trouble with?" Somewhat on impulse, I emailed back "I no longer take on partial retracement surveys." Felt GOOOOOD. In the past I've relied on saying "It's like trying to build just one wall of a house." Didn't work this time. But I figured the research and reconnaissance are the same, and as in the "one wall" analogy the other lines will likely affect where the "one line" is. Plus mainly, the hassles are about the same, and sometimes worse. One being that by definition you're working for someone who doesn't think what you do is really worth paying for. I'm now old enough to be a bit cantankerous about this stuff. So again, it felt good.
A week ago one of the neighborhood approached me to ask how much it would cost for me to "dig up his corners". I demurred, and said that if the corners were in it wouldn't take much, but he looked like a guy who would already know where they were if they were in. I'd be lucky to find a monument at even one of his corners. It would be a waste of money. What he really wanted was a resurvey, and in these parts a resurvey will run into a few thousand dollars. He understood that, and, I think, appreciated it.
The problem with doing just one line is that it could become the gateway into doing more lines and then you might want to try other things. Then you have to find a dealer and it gets to the point where -- oh wait -- you're talking about surveying. Nevermind.
Wendell, post: 380559, member: 1 wrote: wait -- you're talking about surveying. Nevermind
SNORT (laugh)
Bad boys, bad boys, whatya gonna do? Whatya gonna do when they come for you? Bad boys.
On little jobs, finding one line is about 98 percent of the overall effort and I explain that to people.
Many times in PLSSia the only goal is to know one line. It may be a half mile long, but it's just one line. Of course, in the process of figuring out where that one line is located you normally need to recover the remaining corners, but not always. An example would be a case where there is no road running down a section line from the specified corner to the quarter corner involved. Both of those monuments may be in place, so the only real purpose is to set some minor stakes on line to facilitate whatever it is that is important at the moment to the client.
Wendell, post: 380559, member: 1 wrote: The problem with doing just one line is that it could become the gateway into doing more lines and then you might want to try other things. Then you have to find a dealer and it gets to the point where -- oh wait -- you're talking about surveying. Nevermind.
Yep, you gotta know your boundaries.
Holy Cow, post: 380579, member: 50 wrote: Bad boys, bad boys, whatya gonna do? Whatya gonna do when they come for you? Bad boys.
On little jobs, finding one line is about 98 percent of the overall effort and I explain that to people.
I'll say "by the time I have figured out where that line is, I probably will have figured out where the other lines are, so all you will be saving is the time it takes me to pound the pipes in the ground. Now it there's some reason you don't want those other corners marked, that's OK, that's your business, it's all up to you."
Sometimes that's the case, they know they're encroaching on the other side.
Cee Gee, post: 380546, member: 451 wrote: New policy here: Got the perennial query in response to a survey proposal I sent out: "Can you do just the one line we're having trouble with?" Somewhat on impulse, I emailed back "I no longer take on partial retracement surveys." Felt GOOOOOD. In the past I've relied on saying "It's like trying to build just one wall of a house." Didn't work this time. But I figured the research and reconnaissance are the same, and as in the "one wall" analogy the other lines will likely affect where the "one line" is. Plus mainly, the hassles are about the same, and sometimes worse. One being that by definition you're working for someone who doesn't think what you do is really worth paying for. I'm now old enough to be a bit cantankerous about this stuff. So again, it felt good.
Good on 'ya.
I always tell the client that it takes the same amount of work to figure out one corner as it does for all of the corners. If I know where one goes, I know where they all go.
I have zero problem doing "just one line".
sometimes it is the smartest and most logical thing to do, for me and the land owner both.
I Always do a little research then prepare a written proposal for Every project.
sometimes they look like this:
1. resolve and monument East line... $2,000
2. resolve and monument All boundaries... $2,150
If they want to skip #2, fine.
or:
1. resolve and monument East line... $2,000
2. resolve and monument All boundaries... $8,150
I really don't understand the flurry. It depends
I'm like Peter in this respect. I will stake only one line if that's what the client wants, it certainly isn't an issue with me if you only want one line staked.
Sure the effort to then do all of them is reduced, and I could (and sometimes do) stake a little more if I'm there. I'll also usually shoot the house corners reflectorless just in case they do decide to get a plot plan at a later date. On property line stakings we will offer options that include a plot plan, and either concrete or Iron pin corners.
What's the problem with staking one line?
Dtp
My favorite is the, "just the 4 corners", as if there were really anything else.
I just gave an estimate to a potential client, his north line (the only one he wants)-$800
All lines-$850,,,,,,
We will see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
wfwenzel, post: 380921, member: 7180 wrote: My favorite is the, "just the 4 corners", as if there were really anything else.
Its even better when they ask for "just the 4 corners" but there are 10 significant angle points...
Can you just dig up the corners?...Yes, but I am a surveyor, and when I do that, you will take it mean that the rebar is, in fact, at your corner...and just because I used a shovel and a locator doesn't change my responsibilities in relationship to the Recording Act.
MightyMoe, post: 380928, member: 700 wrote: I just gave an estimate to a potential client, his north line (the only one he wants)-$800
All lines-$850,,,,,,We will see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Oh man, That price definitely represents different parts of the country, but Your methodology for The cost of the whole is about the same as the cost of one line is spot on.
One day of crew time here is ~$1500, Office time adding to about ~$2000 Then typical BS that goes with every survey the cost goes up. Throw in the office cost to prepare a Record of survey map filed with the county, a $400 dollar review fee and final monuments set at missing corners, one can see how many mom and pop types don't think a survey is worth it. Some recognize the value added to the property but many don't.
That's food for thought. I recently had a guy ask me for a price for surveying & setting 4 points where his 100 ac. tract crosses a power line R/R. The R/W is half underwater & pretty thick. I figured I could locate some control with GPS but I still would have to hump equipment through mud water & really thick brambles & briars & the temp has been running about 100 deg. f. I still didn't know what I would find. I gave him an estimate of 4 G. I told him I would do it by the hour or give him a not-to exceed price. He never called back & I wasn't disappointing. About all you can do around here with GPS is set control as tree cover makes reception difficult & iffy. Had another guy ask me to locate one line that his neighbor kept disputing by tearing down his fence. The sheriff said, "get a survey". I told him I couldn't give him a price as I would be dealing with an unknown. If it was just a matter of retracing his 3 ac. boundary, it wouldn't be too bad, however, if it was a serious boundary problem, I could wind up surveying half of the neighborhood. This has all the earmarks of winding up in court. I can't blame a guy for trying to save money & I try to help them do that but we all deserve to be compensated for what we do. Some of these guys that buy 500 G lots in gated subdivisions with a lot of restrictions really take the cake at times. They want you to work really cheap. I didn't tell them to buy property they can't afford to build on nor did I make the requirements.
