Do any of you have any tactful way of telling the landowner that their "help" is costing you money? 🙂
I know you know what I mean. 🙂
Just tell them you've got to get in the "zone" and if you explain every action to an observer, it take$ more time.
Let him/her know that you'll be glad to walk them around and explain...after you do your initial search. As for being tactful...that's subjective. Just be honest, most folks will understand.
I generally tell them that client "help" involves a lot of talk which distracts the crew and keeps them from working efficiently. And since time is money they're paying for it. Generally that convinces them to let the crew work.
I always just tell them I am glad to talk all day long but at my hourly rate.
I'm a strong believer in "stealth" surveying. Tell them you can't possibly be there until Wednesday, then show up on Monday. Nothing worse than being followed constantly with a barrage of commentary and questioning. Only thing worse is if it's the neighbor doing this.
They usually mention that they want to help before I give them an estimate. When I give them the estimate, I state very clearly, if I don't get your help, the estimate is X. If I do get your help, the estimate is 2X. They usually leave me alone after that 😛
> I'm a strong believer in "stealth" surveying. Tell them you can't possibly be there until Wednesday, then show up on Monday. Nothing worse than being followed constantly with a barrage of commentary and questioning. Only thing worse is if it's the neighbor doing this.
:good:
This is often my method. It's hard for them to complain when you're working on their job "early".
Not tactful, but it is clear, and I have used this before.
It costs 1.5 times the fee for the client to watch and 2.0 times for them to help.
There is such a thing as a "helpful client".
|
|
|
|
|
|
They are the ones that offer to run the yellow dozer down your flag line so it will make traversing easier.
> Do any of you have any tactful way of telling the landowner that their "help" is costing you money? 🙂
The only effective way I can think of is telling the landowner that their "help" is costing them money.:-P
> I always just tell them I am glad to talk all day long but at my hourly rate.
Mine has always been: I will talk as long as you want to talk, but it is going to cost you $X.XX per minute.
They nearly always found something else to do so I could go back to work.
35 years ago that was $1.00/minute. Now it is higher.B-)
Found it useful to keep myself focused on the job and let them try to keep up if possible.
If they keep asking questions, be honest with them and let them know that they have a choice of letting you stay focused and do the job or answer their questions.
If they insist on both, make the time for both and charge them equally for the lessons as well as the work.
[sarcasm]Be sure to let them know that you will be at their job on your next day off to help them[/sarcasm]
The one that comes out and asks if I want a cold beverage on a hot day, then goes back inside after delivering it is pretty helpful too.
Sadly not a lot of those, but it has happened.
Ask Them If They Have An Old Survey
Then ask them to get it for you. You should be finished before they come back out.
Helping is one problem, but they should have useful information that is worth the first few minutes.
Paul in PA
Chris and I actually had a landowner with us today. He had already cleared about 85-90% of the fence row that we had to traverse down, before we got there. He was pretty helpful.