He had replied earlier that he was shocked my estimate for a boundary survey was so high.?ÿ I told him that I figured it was close to what others in the area would estimate, and if not, he should go with a cheaper one.
"The old survey gives you 99% of all that information. I practiced real estate law for 30 years and I know what an updated survey is. All I was asking for is an estimate for an updated survey at this point. I take from your email that you do not want my business. "
I replied to this that there's no such things as an "update" on a survey that someone else did.?ÿ I don't think I'll hear from him again.
I have had a client ask if another firm might be able to get the job done quicker (that I already have several hours into) because their deadline has been moved forward by others.?ÿ The answer is normally, "No.?ÿ First, they need all the information I have already gathered in doing the two adjoining surveys I did for you several years ago.?ÿ Second, you move to the end of their list behind however many other jobs they currently have in the hopper.?ÿ Please be patient and we will get it done as soon as we can.?ÿ Meanwhile, rain is falling that will total about three inches in the gauge.
Get the "update" from the original surveyor. Oh, wait, he died 20 years ago!
Given that you have 30 years of experience in real estate law, you of all people should know that the moment I 'update' your survey done by someone else with my professional license seal, I am assuming full liability for everything shown on it and if you want for me to accept that liability without fair compensation that everything shown on that survey is true and correct, then you are absolutely correct Sir, I don't want your business.?ÿ
Yes, I mentioned that too.
The plans are from 1986 and 1989, so it's not like it's a situation where he'd just paid for a survey and now has to again.?ÿ In fact, he wasn't even the land owner back then, so he's never even paid for a survey of this property.
I had a similar situation where a real estate attorney ask for an update and upgrade to a survey I had done 8 years ago from a Class B survey to an ALTA. I told him I couldn't UPGRADE the survey as they were governed by separate standards as well as having different positional accuracy tolerances, then I forwarded both sets of standards for him to review. The following day I received a call from the attorney with him telling me that he had a new found understanding of what an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey actually is. He commissioned me to provide the ALTA from scratch at a premium fee due to their time restraints.
I love stories like that.?ÿ
I spent time in my first email explaining the steps that led to the cost and why they had to be done.
Maybe he's dealt with different types of surveyors in his 30 years in practice.?ÿ I don't know anyone out there who's willing to take a 30+ year old plan and slap their own name on it, though
I take from your email that you do not want my business.
I do not, if you want to argue about my fee.
I was at a project yesterday doing some early boundary/topo work for what will probably go on to become a subdivision.?ÿ The farmer (I'd guess 75-80 years old) who's 20 acres I was on came out to talk to me and he asked how much the contract was for the work that I was doing.?ÿ I hadn't seen it actually so I didn't know, but I guessed $4000-6000.?ÿ I just happened to be tying the pins on his homestead parcel when he made the comment "Well, at least you've been out here all day... I just had these pins set a month ago and I think I got ripped off".?ÿ I go "Oh??ÿ What did the survey cost ya?"?ÿ He replies: "The guy wasn't out here more than 30 minutes and he charged me $1200!"
I've browsed this board enough to know this sort of conversation happens all the time but this was the first time I actually got to see one live, so I was pretty amused.?ÿ I said "I dunno, I think you got a screamin' deal..." and briefly tried to explain the effort that goes into a survey.?ÿ I dunno if it sunk in; maybe.?ÿ Since it looked like he was in the process of selling to a developer anyway I'm guessing my words were fleeting.
Mostly what I was thinking about is how some guy is running around out there doing $1200 ROS! ????????
@bstrand?ÿ
Kinda makes one wonder why the prior surveyor from a month ago isn't doing the work you're now doing.....
@bstrand?ÿ
Find out who it is and we can all take a little whack for good measure....
Maybe it was just one of those 'mortgage' surveys.....?ÿ ?ÿ
The company I work for has done work for the client before so I think that gave us the edge here.
Oh his caps were minty fresh, but I've never met him.?ÿ The project was 130 miles from my office.
There is no such thing as an 'update' survey. Ever.
