Why is it that a project engineer will always say that he wants a "local surveyor" on his project, but he himself is from two states away?
Engineers have told me that they want a local surveyor because-
Local surveyors are supposedly cheaper than getting someone from out of town.
Local surveyors usually have a better handle on the “local surveying issues” than people unfamiliar with the area’s surveys.
Local surveyors usually have some knowledge of local building customs that could assist engineer.
Local surveyors can respond quicker and cheaper to requests for additional site information.
Choosing a local surveyor pumps a little money and good feelings into the community as opposed to using someone from out of town and potentially causing a stir.
Local surveyors usually don’t have the attitude that - “ they can’t see it from their house” so it is assumed that they will do a more thorough job.
So...apparently no one wants an engineer anywhere close to them 😀
Most of those things could be applied to hiring a local engineer.
I agree totally, I am amazed when local people go out of town to hire an engineer or a surveyor for that matter.
Most of the out of town hiring I encounter is done by the local government organizations. The fed government is almost 100% non-local hire, the city 100% non-local engineer hire, the state 100% and our local borough 75%. The local engineers are left with all the private local work; we have very little commercial activity here.
It’s something that has bothered me over the years as I see my tax dollars going towards the hiring of very large engineering companies to do small projects such as street upgrades and storm and san sewer replacements while the local engineers are having trouble making money. Same with surveyors, many of the engineering companies have a surveying dept. that they bring in to do the work for their design.
I have compared costs and the out of town surveyors are charging 4 times as much for their services compared to one of the local surveying companies.
There is a saying around here that - The definition of an expert in their field is someone from out of town.
On the other hand
No one wants to be operated on by Becky Turner's little boy, Tommy. Remember him. He was the one who turned to the left when everone else in the band turned to the right at the Veteran's Day parade back in '97.
Our minister last Sunday told of the difficulties most communities have in accepting a minister who grew up in their home community. He said to try to imagine what it was like for Jesus to be accepted as something other than Mary and Joseph's boy.
There is something comforting about using the same firm for ever and ever, even after four name changes and none of the same people from eight years ago still working there.
On the other hand
I heard a sermon from a popular preacher one time and he reminded all that –
It’s impossible to be a savior or miracle worker in your own village. He said Jesus didn’t get his popularity until he left home.
Not trying to get into a religious conversation – just an example.
Unless unique local conditions cause water to run uphill, a civil engineer can phone it in from just about anywhere
I have seen this before.
One of the conditions that the out of state firm got the project was on a condition that they use the local surveyor.
The local surveyor is probably connected somehow to the agency/client.
I'll stick my neck out here and say that it's more important to have a local surveyor on a project than a local engineer.
I agree with akpls. Our firm takes on several jobs a year from out of town engineers.
The grass is always greener on the other side! Hey, travel several counties over for survey work and charge four items your normal rate! They are doing it!B-)
In all honesty, it's because he can. He's hiring you instead of you hiring him.
He, or someone in his company, has sold the client on his services from two states away. That's pretty impressive if you consider that his competition probably included some local, or closer engineering companies.
I think you'd be pretty happy with yourself if you won a big topo job two states away and beat out other companies that were local.
> Why is it that a project engineer will always say that he wants a "local surveyor" on his project, but he himself is from two states away?
