We were working at a new plat, doing construction staking, and an owner of a lot on a neighboring plat comes over. I know him from when I ran the boundary, and in that effort, I recovered the corners along his south boundary.
Well, that gets him to thinking about his property, and when looking at his north line, he thinks there might be an enroachment.
So...he walks over and says: "I cant find the corners on the north line. Could you come over and locate them for me? I don't need a real, full blown survey. Maybe just one corner actually needs to be set. Would a couple of hundred bucks cash in your hand be fair?"
He means well enough, but as I look at him, I get tired.
I am thinking:
Blowing right by how you just asked me to steal from my boss, how do I explain that if I locate the pins (assuming they are there) and flag them up, you are going to act as if a surveyor, that you paid, said that was your boundary? Probably, your north neighbor will too.
I almost offer to just let him use my metal detector and shovel, but I have lost too many tools that way. And I can see no good thing coming from it.
So, I went over and beeped around his lot, flagged nothing, told my chief of parties what I thought it would take, and asked him to send a real proposal/contract. Sometimes there is only one way to do it right.
Seems you handled it well. You have more patience than I do my friend.
We were on a site last fall, rushing to finish a topo, when an abutter pulls up in front of my i-man and starts going on about what he needs done on his property. My i-man, also having more patience than myself tried to explain that there was nothing we could do at the moment, but if he wanted a business card, we could provide that.
He wasnt satisfied, so he went and parked at his house, got his plan, and walked over to us. "I just need a registered marker" he kept saying. What exactly is a registered marker? I asked.
I explained that I was on the clock for a client and couldnt in good faith step off their project to work for him. I gave him the business card pitch again, and he wouldnt have it. He turned around and stormed off. Words were then uttered, probably more loudly than needed.
I cant understand the reasoning of these people. How do they think that it's ok to hijack someone for their own purposes, when they are clearly working for someone else?
Ok, rant off. Enjoy the weekend.
-V
It is the "all about me" attitude that seems to be growing by leaps and bounds in today's world.
It's like the folks who park in the fire lane adjacent to the buildings of the local shopping center because they can't be bothered to park in the lot and have to walk to the store like us normal folks.
Sure there are lots of examples but that one popped in first.
I see a lot of "I'm the only one out here" driving.
Talking to people who approach me in the field never goes very well.
I think they are looking for a blue plate special while I am looking to sell a 5 star level, 6 course meal.
David,
I agree, but sometimes it does turn into real work. I'll take that chance. Also, as the licensed guy/owner/field guy all in one.. if I want to help someone out, I can. I've done that kind of thing on a barrier island, where you have to take a boat to get there. Doesn't happen all that often, but I can usually talk my way into a real job if given a few minutes...
Andy
:good:
I don't doubt you are better at it than I am.
Usually now since I work for the gubmint I just suggest they look in the Yellow Pages or if I know someone local I will refer them that way.
I have one in Fort Bragg but I haven't needed to use his name yet. The other thing is if someone is unsure about my results then I can suggest they have so-and-so check out my work, believe me we aren't friends, just professional acquaintances. If I have made a mistake he won't give me a pass on it, in fact, even my friends won't give me a pass which is as it should be.
I think most private owners are happy to get a Survey paid for by their neighbor who happens to be the State and when they see the effort we put in they don't really doubt our results.
When I read through some of these posts and see what some of you fellows have to deal with, I am so glad that I too work mainly for local, county and state agencies and can avoid individual home owners. My government clients may have a few more hoops to jump through regulation and procedure wise but it is fairly steady work and they always pay on time.
If an abutter approaches with a question, I'm all for spending a few minutes talking with them. Sometimes, it does get us additional work. I guess, really, it's all about how I'm approached. If they are friendly and courteous, great. If not, my attitude sours really quickly. I didnt get into this business because of my people skills, and I'm not going to be ordered around.
I have to agree with Joe, I would prefer to work strictly for builders, and doing municipal work. Though right now, we have to take what we can get.
-V
I have found that with reasonable people they may come on a little strong or even hostile at first; they are defending their turf which is bred into us by genetics.
I find that approaching and meeting them and starting out by listening then identifying myself along with a business card will turn the vast majority into pleasant and polite people. I even had an adjoiner bring us water from his well one time; he said my well water is really good, here have some. He was right, for some reason his water is really good, maybe minerals in it, I'm not sure why, it just is.
@ the title of this thread LMAO
finishing a lot survey the neighbor, Asian lady, comes over and asks what we are doing. I tell her and show her the front corner common to both properties.
She asks, who checks my work.
I say nobody.
Well how do I know it's right? Doesn't the City check your work?
Call another surveyor, and no they don't. LOL