I am in Texas and work for a pretty well established surveying company. They have been around since 1979. we had a pretty good year in 2015, this year not so much. We haven't had any steady business coming through the doors or going out for that matter. We are a small privately owned company with one R.P.L.S., one field guy and a draftsman. We have a really nice little operation going when we do have business. I am looking for any and all suggestions as what to do to obtain more business. We have great new equipment, an s6 Trimble robotic TS, and R10 GPS base and rover. We are at our wits end as what to do, we have tried contacting pipeline companies, construction companies, and local title companies just to name a few. I can not figure out what we are doing wrong but if we don't get some business we will soon be faced with the harsh realities of closing our doors. Please any and all advise will help, as one man reaching out to another. As a surveyor reaching out to other surveyors. Please give me some advice.
Thanks to any and all.
I have more questions than answers for you:
What kind of work were you doing before?
Did you have repeat clients or just one and done kind of stuff?
Did you work as a sub for any engineering companies or developers or construction contractors? Have you talked to them? I assume you have....
The best way to get new clients is to figure out where they eat.
It is a presidential election year. Everyone is holding their breath (and money). Hang in there, it will come back.
Is it possible the one in charge likes the slower pace?
can you tell me which County you are in?
Dan Patterson, post: 388838, member: 1179 wrote: I have more questions than answers for you:
What kind of work were you doing before?
Did you have repeat clients or just one and done kind of stuff?
Did you work as a sub for any engineering companies or developers or construction contractors? Have you talked to them? I assume you have....
I was doing dirt work. I am not the RPLS. We have done all of the above. Some clients were repeat and the it was sort of like they have strayed from us. We usually charge around $500-600 for a lot and block mortgage/boundary survey. I have heard that some surveyors in our area are doing them for as low as $250. How is that even possible?
RAGOODWIN, post: 388857, member: 490 wrote: can you tell me which County you are in?
Taylor county
Adam, post: 388856, member: 8900 wrote: Is it possible the one in charge likes the slower pace?
At this point I wouldn't even say we have a pace. We are at a dead stop. Haven't done a job in the last week.
Brad Ott, post: 388852, member: 197 wrote: It is a presidential election year. Everyone is holding their breath (and money). Hang in there, it will come back.
Thank you sir!
I've seen election years where the opposite was true. The powers-that-be lube up the GP with cheap gas and lots of money. But you're right, this is definitely not those conditions. My work has slowed a bit. Two of my larger clients dropped to a trickle in May and have just now starting to pick it back up.
I guess there's probably a number of reasons including interest rates and behind-the-scenes-crap that we'll never be privy to.
Don't fret and roll with it. Been in the business a long time and seen a lot of slow times. Enjoy the quiet, it will get noisy again soon enough.
Is this an area hit hard by the downturn in the petroleum industry? A very successful Surveyor I know once said " you can't get any survey work when there isn't any".
paden cash, post: 388864, member: 20 wrote: I've seen election years where the opposite was true. The powers-that-be lube up the GP with cheap gas and lots of money. But you're right, this is definitely not those conditions. My work has slowed a bit. Two of my larger clients dropped to a trickle in May and have just now starting to pick it back up.
I guess there's probably a number of reasons including interest rates and behind-the-scenes-crap that we'll never be privy to.
Don't fret and roll with it. Been in the business a long time and seen a lot of slow times. Enjoy the quiet, it will get noisy again soon enough.
I agree and thank you sir. Just never been this bad before.
I DON'T KNOW about Taylor but Midland County is still moving along. We've tightened our belts and cut expenses but we're still busy.
Andy Nold, post: 388876, member: 7 wrote: I DON'T KNOW about Taylor but Midland County is still moving along. We've tightened our belts and cut expenses but we're still busy.
Good to know! Send us work if you need any help!
lmbrls, post: 388865, member: 6823 wrote: Is this an area hit hard by the downturn in the petroleum industry? A very successful Surveyor I know once said " you can't get any survey work when there isn't any".
Sounds like a smart guy!
These things happen. Much of it is beyond our control. May need to investigate types of work that you can do but don't have tons of experience with because you have been kept busy with other work.
Some on here believe they can make it as musicians. Some believe they can make it as artists. A few of us are involved in agriculture. Anything that holds water will help bail out a sinking boat.
Anytime the business is quiet you have to put time into marketing. Make a list of work getting ideas and start trying them. It may not happen straight away but it will pay off eventually. I have been in the same situation.
I suggest you make a list from ideas given here.
Ryan adames, post: 388833, member: 11772 wrote: I am in Texas and work for a pretty well established surveying company. They have been around since 1979. we had a pretty good year in 2015, this year not so much. We haven't had any steady business coming through the doors or going out for that matter. We are a small privately owned company with one R.P.L.S., one field guy and a draftsman. We have a really nice little operation going when we do have business. I am looking for any and all suggestions as what to do to obtain more business. We have great new equipment, an s6 Trimble robotic TS, and R10 GPS base and rover. We are at our wits end as what to do, we have tried contacting pipeline companies, construction companies, and local title companies just to name a few. I can not figure out what we are doing wrong but if we don't get some business we will soon be faced with the harsh realities of closing our doors. Please any and all advise will help, as one man reaching out to another. As a surveyor reaching out to other surveyors. Please give me some advice.
Thanks to any and all.
Rumor has it there may be a large construction project down that way after the first of the year. Something about a wall? That's gonna require a lot of layout. DO NOT turn this into a political thread. If that were to happen there should be plenty of work to go around. Imagine what would be involved.
Totalsurv, post: 388929, member: 8202 wrote: Anytime the business is quiet you have to put time into marketing. Make a list of work getting ideas and start trying them. It may not happen straight away but it will pay off eventually. I have been in the same situation.
I suggest you make a list from ideas given here.
I appreciate all the advice guys!
