A "getting by" house, might be a mobile home.
A "getting by" mobile home, might be a tent.
A "getting by" girlfriend, might be a fat girl, with a Camaro. (I know somebody like this)
A "getting by" survey, is one with a number of mistakes, all waiting to be discovered, and fixed.
I recently came across one, about 15 yrs old. It was about 14 acres. It had lines running through a barn. It was used in a mortgage. The client wanted a re-finance. So, they wanted it reduced to 5 acres, and modified. Once the mtg is satisfied, in the re-fi process, it all "goes away". That 14 ac survey "got them by" for 15 yrs. Errors and all.
I'm involved in another. It's 10 ac. It was done recently, by a Mr "low research" surveyor. He's left a 20' gap on the east, and overlapped the deed on the west side, by several feet. The client wants me to divide it into 3 parcels. Now it "hits the fan". "Getting by" surveys have value, in that the enable the surveyor to "get by". And the client to "get by", but there is always a "day of discovery". It can be a source of liability.?ÿ
It seems that all surveys have value. Some are just to make trouble. Some are just worth their paper.?ÿ
But, what you do every day, is your expression of professionalism.?ÿ
Now, are you raising the bar? Or lowering it? Are you an asset to the profession, or a liability?
Questions we all must ask.
N
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Do you think professional land surveyors hold public trust??ÿ
Some do, some don't.?ÿ
Some are the "friend" of the seller.
Some are the "friend" of the buyer.?ÿ
Some do it all alike.?ÿ
N
I've come upon a few surveyors who consistently fell a little short.?ÿ I've been fortunate to never come upon a surveyor who I felt was being an advocate.
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I received a bit of a lecture many years ago from a trio of surveyors who firmly believed what was written in the Field Notes was gospel.?ÿ If they didn't find something where the Field Notes said it should be found, they set something new there and went home happy as a hog in a mud puddle.
A "getting by" house, might be a mobile home.
A "getting by" mobile home, might be a tent.
A "getting by" girlfriend, might be a fat girl, with a Camaro. (I know somebody like this)
A "getting by" survey, is one with a number of mistakes, all waiting to be discovered, and fixed.
I recently came across one, about 15 yrs old. It was about 14 acres. It had lines running through a barn. It was used in a mortgage. The client wanted a re-finance. So, they wanted it reduced to 5 acres, and modified. Once the mtg is satisfied, in the re-fi process, it all "goes away". That 14 ac survey "got them by" for 15 yrs. Errors and all.
I'm involved in another. It's 10 ac. It was done recently, by a Mr "low research" surveyor. He's left a 20' gap on the east, and overlapped the deed on the west side, by several feet. The client wants me to divide it into 3 parcels. Now it "hits the fan". "Getting by" surveys have value, in that the enable the surveyor to "get by". And the client to "get by", but there is always a "day of discovery". It can be a source of liability.?ÿ
It seems that all surveys have value. Some are just to make trouble. Some are just worth their paper.?ÿ
But, what you do every day, is your expression of professionalism.?ÿ
Now, are you raising the bar? Or lowering it? Are you an asset to the profession, or a liability?
Questions we all must ask.
N
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I'm saving this!?ÿ Profound in more ways than you can imagine for the land surveying profession.
The examples you disclose illustrate the very reason some are given licenses to survey land.
The license requires a profession (a promise) to put the public interest above one's own interest.
The origin of the words profession/professional comes from a statement or vow (originally most applied to religious vocations) to PROMISE to put the interest of others above their personal interest. Once that vow is made and accepted the postulate surveyor is granted the license to practice.
Very few of us have the guts (integrity?) to do it, but these folks need to be disciplined and the reputation of their work tarnished publically. The result otherwise is to denigrate the value of surveying in general and all surveyors by association.
JAC
We need more eclectically curious people participating here regularly.
Always appreciate your participation here.?ÿ I've read many of your accounts in the past and enjoyed them immensely.?ÿ I'm a couple million miles from any swamp land, but could always understand the surveying rationale.
But, what you do every day, is your expression of professionalism.
We strive to do our due diligence daily.
You hit the nail on the head!
Our daily due diligence is the expression of our profession (our promise) to put others (the truth) ahead of our person.
I can say that the only getting by survey I have ever done was to set a stake for a client to start mowing a parcel. I figured that would get them by until I could calculate the actual corner and set it the next day.
I know some surveyors who mostly do ??getting by? surveys.?ÿ
This time of year doing field work with five hours of daylight, several feet of snow and temperatures that mostly remain well below zero, every job seems like a 'getting by' survey. I'd prefer to call them a 'Staying Alive' survey after the Bee Gees.?ÿ
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Embrace it Nate!!! You can almost make a career re-doing getting by surveys.?ÿ
Are you a cup half empty or half full kinda guy?