One thing I know for sure is that there are a lot less surveying firms to compete with than there were 5 years ago. And there are more 'one-man' shops than ever before, but at least 1/2 of them have failed in the last 2 years.
And, the fees for construction staking is 1/2 what is was 4 years ago and the typical in-town boundary survey is down 25%
Just when I think I am going to run out more work comes in. I will find something useful to employ myself at (I am an overhead employee) but don't expect the field work to run out. I have a couple of big projects that are waiting either for dry weather or other things to happen.
On the private side, I have zero, not that I am trying to get any. I refuse to do a lot survey for what the average homeowner is willing to pay. The average age of our profession in in the late 50s right now so either there will be more work soon or the legislature will find some other group to license.
We've got a full load through the end of the year, but I'm afraid January is going to be a sad time for some people around here.
We have been running like crazy trying to get work done but many of our large scale projects are wrapping up and we look to have a very quiet November, December.
Im looking forward to a little slow down but I know many of our crews will be sitting for a spell.
everything i told ya came true about the surveying business--imagine that--again --i repeat my old time mentor ernie belleau, 10 dollars an hr will be huge money, made by very few---those days are around the corner--talked to my stepson in denver, says there are survey projects but getting your rates and then getting paid is another story--surveying in Denver has always been a street hooker operation-tdd
Poor. The future looks bleaker every day...
I withheld the pessimistic view.
:good:
How's work load been? wanna make money
got one word for ya---DRONES !!!!
TDD
How's work load been? wanna make money
Ted
What's up with the PLSC?
Rumor has it that they are is cahoots with the real estate board and are trying to eliminate the ILC. What do you knwo?
I've been working seven 12 hour days a week since May ... I am so burned out at the moment...looking forward to a break next week when the Alaska field season slows down.
> I've been working seven 12 hour days a week since May ... I am so burned out at the moment...looking forward to a break next week when the Alaska field season slows down.
:good: :good:
Very busy...partners don't want to hire right now though.
:-O [sarcasm]How much do you have to pay them, to work in that beautiful country, for that many hours?[/sarcasm]
You deserve a vacation; remember to take lots of pictures! 😉
Radar
steady, but we can always handle more projects
I'm waititng for
someone to come on and tell everyone that just said they were busy they are liars.....
sure seems like we are seeing an uptake in the posts looking for people too.
Surely that can't be right.
just stopping in between projects.. back out to the field for me.
I'm waititng for
Very busy. Downsized in late '08. Less overhead and work more but more profitable. I have a bi-weekly "burned out pity party".
I'm waititng for
don't call me "Shirley."
Pretty much had the summer off from survey/engineering work and spent my time doing firewood. The past month has gotten pretty busy
Almost too busy. The past several months, I have been swamped with calls and most have given a green light on getting their projects done.
Right now, I am in various stages of work on four separate farm surveys.
I have a five different folks with 3 to 5 lots in different subdivisions to get surveyed.
I have one MT-EZ packet to work on as soon as possible and need to get a price together for a multi-building resort area to fill out an MT-1 packet for them.
This morning I met with a fellow that wants to start a 60 acre lakefront subdivision early next year.
Not to mention that I really would like to complete a couple of more KY/TN state line monuments for a volunteer project I have been helping with.
With some other smaller projects, I am now telling folks that I am booked pretty much through the end of the year - probably a little into next year.
It is just about too much, but I do feel very fortunate to be in this position after the slow period of the past few years. Luckily, everyone has been willing to wait their turn. It does make me glad that I do not advertise. No telling how swamped I would be then.
Still pretty slow in the great NW from what I see. Not to go all political and it doesn't really matter what side of the fence you are on, until the fiscal cliff is solved I don't think folks with money will do much. The simple truth is the DOW is down close to 1000 points since the election, until the climate changes the financial markets are going to struggle, doesn't matter whose fault it is. I look for a tough few years, unfortunate since we have never really recovered here in the NW, it has been down or stagnate since late 2007.
I know there are pockets doing much better than what I see locally, my point is that until some fundamental things change that will cause the people with money to start investing in development, we will ALL be in for a bumpy ride, ours locally just seems to be worse than some. I know of no surveyor within 100 miles of me that is anywhere close to busy, in fact most are just struggling to keep the doors open and operating with about ¼ or less of the staff they had five years ago, sometimes your perspective is affected by what you see locally and regionally.
SHG