In the past couple of weeks I've had two clients (an ENR top 10 firm and a DOT) respond to my proposals, both six plus figures, that they though the survey numbers might be too low and I should think about bumping them up 10 or 15 percent.
Jerks...when I price a job I'm the professional and know what I'm doing, who are they to question me 😀
Yup,
I had a lady that was selling a vacant lot in a resort town nearby call me for an estimate to do a land title survey.
Lot is 80x125 she says and should not take very long.
My quote was very near my common price in this subdivision.
She says that I am crazy and that I was the highest estimate she has received.
I knocked off 10 bucks and she gave me the job, but I thew a wrench into the deal, I said that since I was doing this for less than my normal price, I needed payment before starting on the job. Got the check yesterday.
Still not figuring that one out.
Randy
Response: And when you need a heart surgeon.... be sure to shop around for the cheapest one.
I seriously believe that a lot of people will say that you are the highest in an effort to get you to cut your price down. She may also have been aware of how awesome you are and wanted to hire you anyway but hoped for a discount. Hard tellin' fer sure tho.
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We have all had prospective clients approach us in one way or another and then try to get us to go lower on the price. Some do not handle it very gracefully and others just walk away.
I have learned over the years to just smile and be professional. You never know who the (jerk) might be related to or knows someone that could cost you a potentially large project.
We have all said derogatory words when people can't hear us. One of my mentors told me many years ago to write down your frustration to get it out of your system, then tear it up and throw it away. Be careful not to burn bridges behind you.
Educating the public on what it takes to do a proper survey is very difficult.
I am more frustrated with the surveyors that will do a survey for $300 when it should be $1k or more for a typical 1/2 a day boundary survey. These surveyors really do a disservice to the profession and public.
JC
> I knocked off 10 bucks and she gave me the job"
Not to nitpick, but that would be an ethics violation with the BOL in Alabama.
> Response: And when you need a heart surgeon.... be sure to shop around for the cheapest one.
best response so far!
Nah, he just renegotiated the contract. He agreed to knock off $10 and she agreed to pay up front. They both got something from the renegotiation.
100 x 200 for 1K? You guys are raking in the cash. I get kinda close sometimes depending on the area I'm working but over 1K for a boundary is kind of high for my area. I jacked my prices up about $150 for over a year and only got hired when the other guys were too busy. It felt good to make a buck sure. I think we should all make more.
I've told people $500 for a lot survey and didn't get it. I love my job and I love educating the public but in our depressed little town, nobody has any money to do anything. They go buy fence materials for 8 - 900 bucks or whatever and can't get a building permit. (Thankfully, our city has begun enforcing the permit side and requiring a survey map to get it. 😀 Way to go J-town). They find out the survey cost $500 and about flip out. They are backed up against a wall. I don't like seeing folks in that type situation.
I do adjust my price based on time of year, terrain, specific plans of lots and how much work am I actually getting. If I'm busy, my price must be low (or I produce quality maps and provide friendly service) and if I'm slow, my price is too high. Phone ringing and no work = over the magic number. That number also fluctuates. It's a bitch pricing jobs. I'm not new to the biz but I am new at being the PLS large and in charge.
I don't even remember what this started out as....
It's like I'm tired, hot, thirsty and stuck on a hillside in a bramble patch and some lady rings and starts telling me about her jerk neighbor...."But I don't have a lot of money so I'm looking for whatever you can give me cheap."
....cheap one-line-wanting, no-money-having general public ...
(I'm done.)
> Maybe he's not rolling in it but if he can afford a Harley it sounds like he's rolling on about $20k in disposable cash
It would be 20k if it were parked at home....but it was actually running....you meant $20k per year.....I would guess.;-)