From the another site--
Do not even start me start on pricing. A couple of years ago, I surveyed a $550,000 home & property. Being offered for sale by a real estate agent who listed his own house. He was saving a fortune by selling it himself. He stopped the closing and had them call me to ask why the survey fee was $420. Never mind that I spent 3 hours on site.
Now the realtors have come up with a new scheme, instead of having a new survey, they just use the old one... regardless of when it was done. They often call and demand a copy of old survey for the new transaction. I have even had them call and say "We have a fax copy of your survey, but the bottom was cut off, can you drop by and put your seal on it?" Most say "You got paid the first time, didn't you? It's just a piece of paper!"
My income has been cut by 60% while the realtors continue to make 6% by opening a door, showing a house and filling out a contract. I should have been a real estate agent.
The next scheme to be looking for is the one where they call you up and tell you that they are selling a piece of property that you surveyed X number of years ago. They don't need you to resurvey it or anything, but to only go out and re-flag the corners so they can show a potential buyer. You will then get a call from the new buyer in a couple of more weeks, asking you questions about the survey you performed for them last month. When you tell them that you only flagged up the existing corners and didn't do a new survey, they will then tell you that they are holding a copy of the survey that you did that the realtor gave them at closing. There are many variations of the above, but they all serve the same purpose of accomplishing their needs, while not paying you anything (or very little) to participate in their latest money making transaction.
" I should have been a title agent or appraiser "
Not just realators. I am refinancing my home to take advantage of 3.15% interest. I refinanced about 18 months ago to go to 4.25. So the proposed closing costs will nick me $600 for an appraisal and $500 for title report. My loanvalue is less than 25%, and county assessment is not far off of the last appraisal. I am negotiating with the lender and going to get relief on the appraisal (they are going to do a $250 drive-by), but not the title report. Dang, I wish I could make $500 for updating an 18 month old title report. Hardly anyone really complains about these services, but a $600 survey.... they come unglued. Hard to figure out why.
BTW, survey not mentioned in the re-fi good faith estimate, I imagine I will get one of those phony survey waivers (nothing changed since last 18 months) at closing. To bad they wont give the same waivers for appraisal and title!!!
So sell real estate as well?
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
Or whatever "professionally correct" version of that you can come up with.
I thinned the herd a few years ago and quit wasting my time with those jerks.
Simply tell them you provided signed copies of the survey at the time it was performed and that's all there is.
It is not "unprofessional" to tell someone no. You really will live longer if you do things the way you see fit. I haven't lost a penny on a job I didn't take.
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
Where is the "Like" button for Paden's post?
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
We definitely need a "like" button. Paden's post is awesome!
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
> We definitely need a "like" button. Paden's post is awesome!
Like it or not ---
Dunk that donut is some hot coffee because what that guy says is true
realtors are using your old surveys everyday
for real estate transactions
and you don't even know it!
I suppose this is a bad time
to admit that not only am a surveyor and engineer, but also a licensed real estate salesperson. Nothing wrong with doing what you know how to do.
I suppose this is a bad time
> to admit that not only am a surveyor and engineer, but also a licensed real estate salesperson. Nothing wrong with doing what you know how to do.
Well well well
You Turn Coat!
I knew it all along
You're a frick'n PE!
Jefferson, Washington & Lincoln all turned over in their grave
I suppose this is a bad time
Am wondering how often do you apply surveying and real estate services together on a specific job, or do you restrict yourself to providing only one of the two services at a time?
I suppose this is a bad time
> Am wondering how often do you apply surveying and real estate services together on a specific job, or do you restrict yourself to providing only one of the two services at a time?
What's interesting is that there are over 5,500 real estate transactions in the locale that I practice (3,500 deeds and 2,000 leases [on the average]) and there are less than 400 surveys conducted. -- Of the other 5,100 transactions, most use a previous survey or none at all.
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
People should use the surveys we provide. Hopefully, they will keep copies of them with their abstract information. (we don't record surveys in Oklahoma)
The surveys should be a true and proper record of the boundary. If any improvements are shown as of the date of the survey, let the dated certification speak for itself.
If a property needs an update due to improvements, let the buyers and sellers either figure out if they want a new survey, or if they feel comfortable with an 'old' one.
I just draw the line when people call and want a newly signed copy of an old survey...ain't gonna happen. They probably won't even get a copy of an old survey unless they're my original client.
Just all too common !! I've put up with this for 35 years.
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
Well said
"Take a flyin' leap at a rollin' donut.."
I have a cert on my plats to the SELLER and certify the survey only to that party,however some have found their way around it. Am I wrong or do we carry the most liability the longest.
I suppose this is a bad time
I would consider you a professional untill the realty thing came in there.Don't get me started on do what you know....most realtors don't.......CHOKE
I'm getting a headache and heartburn reading this and we are expected to run at their heels.
I'm sorry but you're wrong.
You just don't have the whole story correct.
To me,what your saying is "a surveyor showed up, took a couple of measurements, and then charged me $500. Must be nice to be a surveyor."
I have two close friends who are real estate agents. Their incomes are way down as well. They work long hours and have to deal with irate, stupid, unreal, etc.. clients just as we do.
Real estate agents may make more than we do, but that's much more, I'd say far more are own fault than anybody else.
Can they make good money? Sure. But they work their butts off, meet people, advertise, get involved, head and shoulders above surveyors as a whole, while surveyors as a whole sit in some office corner, giddy over performing a least square adjustment.
Another words they inform the public the value that they can bring to the table, while we just don't.
Can we stop blaming other groups and just look at ourselves and address the problem?
The real estate business isn't all it's cracked up to be
Yes. I admit it. I am a sinner. However, I do very little actual listing and selling of real estate. I do not mix my surveying with my connection to my broker. It is primarily a link to my personal real estate investments.
Someday, I may not be able to work as a surveyor. In that event, I will immediately apply to take the broker test and then open my own real estate firm. This is called planning for one's future.
Other info. We are a recording state. Nearly all surveys of record show only the boundaries. Improvements, etc. are shown only when specifically requested by the client. ALTA's are rarely recorded, but, in some cases the related boundary survey portion of the overall project will be recorded. We do have the dreaded ILC and MTI which show some improvements relative to PRESUMED boundaries (generally plus or minus one foot). These are never recorded by the surveyor as they ARE NOT surveys.