I am a one man operation, and I work out of a small office building on my property. I could not do that survey for the price the broker quoted.
I am fully insured, and am definitely not the cheapest surveyor around. If I cannot make a profit, or develop a relationship with a possible returning client, then it is not worth my time
I am a professional, and I charge professional fees. Unfortunately we do have to adjust to local conditions, and the current economic state.
I heard someone say a few days ago, that there are still firms that are acting and pricing jobs like the times are still booming, but they are not getting any work.
Those of us that can find ways to be competitive, and streamline operations, will be the ones who make it. You have to sell them on service and quality.
When it boils down to it, someone can either try to hold on to the way things were, or they can diversify, and make it to stay in business for when things turn around.
Respectfully,
Jimmy
> I would simply ask him "If you are paying $1,300 then who is paying the rest of the invoice?"
Love it! LOL!
You can't make this stuff up-
I received a RFP from a different broker for the same property today.
LOL-
I sent an estimate back at 5:00PM
Lump Sum Fee $13,273.00
3 weeks to complete
50% down
I paid a visit to the site yesterday.
All corners flagged up with lath; "Prop Corn"
No pins in ground at any corner or PC
Looked everywhere for trav points.
Nothing anywhere; no paint marks, not lumber crayon marks on sidewalks, no PK nails in asphalt, no ink marks on concrete, nothing
HHhhhmmm
I guess they found a $1,350 surveyor
That email Might Gather A Lot Of Attention
WHERE IS THIS MYTHICAL "CALI" YOU SPEAK OF? IS IT A COUNTY OF PENNY?
this is easy...
mark as spam.
this way you just empty your spam folder every so often and don't even have to read the e-mails.
There is nothing preventing your from replying with a counter offer.
Brokers
What's interesting about this thread, is the lack of silence by most, considering the thread has been viewed over 2,200 times.
Brokers
> What's interesting about this thread, is the lack of silence by most, considering the thread has been viewed over 2,200 times.
Wow! :-O
I just asked Wendell if these figures were correct as I've never seen that many views on ANY of our threads before and he just matter-of-factly says "yes" and then grumbles a few choice words about survey brokers. Maybe the survey brokers are reading it themselves?? 😉
I don't usually pipe in about this type of stuff being I am not a surveyor but...in this instance, I feel like those broker guys are just vultures trying to undercut the profession and trying to take advantage of "starving surveyors", especially right now in this economy. What they don't realize is they are pecking on the wrong profession because MOST of you guys have wayyyy too much integrity to stoop to their level to undercut each other. Your schooling and experience is worth MUCH more than some undercutter broker firm wanting something for almost nothing.
Stick together, guys!! Don't stoop to their "pennies on the dollar" asking prices!! If no one does it for the price they want then they'll eventually have to pay the proper full price to get that work done. :good:
Brokers
The sad thing is, many young surveyors came up with the great feeling, that they were in a great and time honored profession, where their well-considered opinion would be valued by society.
Well, in most cases, it is not.
I was told that the definition of a profession is: the professional loves his profession so much that he would do it without pay.
Sounds like it has come to that.
Brokers
> > What's interesting about this thread, is the lack of silence by most, considering the thread has been viewed over 2,200 times.
>
> Wow! :-O
>
> I just asked Wendell if these figures were correct as I've never seen that many views on ANY of our threads before and he just matter-of-factly says "yes" and then grumbles a few choice words about survey brokers. Maybe the survey brokers are reading it themselves?? 😉
>
>
I really don't think that the problem is the brokers.
They (the brokers) are filling a niche and there are surveyors (many I suspect) that are willing ready and able to provide the requests of the broker.
I would suspect that the large hits on this thread are not the brokers, it is the surveyors who do work for them, but do not speak up.
Brokers
Another possibility: curiosity. I have never been in a position to write a contract with brokers or anybody else, but thought I would read the thread anyway......
Brokers
> The sad thing is, many young surveyors came up with the great feeling, that they were in a great and time honored profession, where their well-considered opinion would be valued by society.
>
> Well, in most cases, it is not.
>
> I was told that the definition of a profession is: the professional loves his profession so much that he would do it without pay.
>
> Sounds like it has come to that.
I was once told, that the definition of a hobby is: An activity in which one engages but does not receive sufficient compensation to earn a living.
Brokers
I read this thread. Don't work for anybody unfortunately. I think cutting fees in a down economy makes as much sense as making the hole bigger on a leaking boat. the professional service a surveyor provides is worth no less today than it was 10 years ago - or whenever the economy was (so-called) 'booming'...if anything it should be worth more. Folks want to "adjust to local conditions" or whatever discounting your professional service is called just to remain 'busy' (not necessarily making $$), thats fine - i would rather be out of the survey business, and earning from a diff track - than in business, slashing fees, and going belly-up. People like this are killing the profession IMO
That email Might Gather A Lot Of Attention
> while low the price quote is not outrageous. Your not in Cali are you?
>
> Paul in PA
Paul, I think you were right.
However the e-mail itself didn't get a lot of attention,
I think that a lot of folks in the surveying profession are paying attention
to this thread, - ever interesting in deed.