Mrs Smith owns a small ranch. She wants to leave some land to her children. Before the zoning makes it illegal she grants two 10 acre more or less parcels, one to her son and one to her daughter.
We surveyed the two parcels about 15 years ago with a few other utility items and a long access road.?ÿ
Fast forward to today. Mrs Smith is selling the ranch and the new buyer wants the two parcels re-staked so he calls me.
The original survey was GPS and I still have the file so easy.
Out to the site we go.?ÿ
Parcel #1 is occupied by Mrs. Smith's daughter and son-in-law.?ÿ
Well.........Mr. Jones the son-in-law is none to happy.
Say what?????ÿ
He says we don't have a right to be there, that we should call first, that well,,,,,,on and on.?ÿ
Seriously?????
We don't need to access his land, in this open country we can drive around his parcel and never set foot on him which we do.?ÿ
I don't know the family dynamic, but I'm sure glad I not a member of a family like that one.
As an aside Mrs Smith has always been friendly, helpful and very nice to me.?ÿ
I love my job...
In 1983 I had worked my way up to the rank of manager of crew and Office. For the first time, my salary was based on my efficiency and profit, and no longer on a steady paycheck. I had just left the ranks of the chorus singing "why is the boss so stupid, how unfair he doesn't pay me more" to the chorus singing "now you get to see for yourself how business is, bigshot".
I came ready to the office. I sat at the desk and waited for people to call and send me money. The first call of my new career!
Ring ring.
Me: x y z surveys!
Voice on phone: Can you do a survey and mark my line without placing your tripod on the other side? The other side is my brother and he will shoot us both if we set foot on his side!!
Some people wouldn't be happy if you hanged them with a brand new rope.?ÿ?ÿ
PS - I'd probably tell the fella that IF I ever wanted on his property I'd be sure to let him know.?ÿ ?ÿ
I did have a property owner once try to remove me from public RW.?ÿ And I wasn't really even on his property (OK I was about 10' from it).?ÿ He called the sheriff.?ÿ Sheriff talked with us both.?ÿ Sheriff told him to go inside and told me to hurry.
I had a job where a private road was involved that the owners of the adjacent lot continued to use, despite being asked not to.?ÿ The adjacent owner had direct access to their property via a public road and had no need to use the private road, they would barricade the road and the adjacent owner would rip down the barricades. Long story short, I was aware of the situation and contacted the local PD, as well as sending the adjoiner a return receipt certified letter stating that I would be on site on such and such dates with a crew and estimating the duration of the work as required by the State of NJ under the Surveyor's right to trespass law.?ÿ I never finished the job, I had a signed contract, the retainer fee was nowhere near enough to handle the problems I encountered, the owner wouldn't agree to pay for additional work, so, I walked away.?ÿ 10 years later, I get a subpoena from the adjacent owner's Attorney wanting all my records and findings related to the survey.?ÿ It cost me $250 to have my Attorney email theirs with a simple letter, sorry, there were no findings or opinions as the work was never completed, and, there no records because my client's basement was flooded and that's where he stored his archived materials?ÿ (both true stories).?ÿ Problem solved.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
When they offer to call the sheriff, I always encourage them to do so. Since I am a smart___ I also ask, "Who do you think they will believe when I tell them I am not on your property?"
Yup, been down that road and always withdrawn when confronted when the owner was cradling a shotgun.?ÿ If we were 200 yards distant I'd engage in loud conversation, "just doing my job" etc.?ÿ If they were cradling a rifle I'd withdraw posthaste and come back with a Sherriff with my paperwork, etc., and bill my client for the additional hassle.?ÿ No reason to get shot while surveying when we have access rights which local law enforcement will support (for a price).
