BTDT, in surveying. The money was nice but the aggravation was something I don't want to repeat.
It would be to your advantage if your competitor did the project. Give her your competitor's phone number.........Seriously.
Every thing Larry said makes sense.
re:
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> Have seen a very similar project in the area where I live. After I found out every surveyor who had done anything in the neighborhood had been reported to the licensing board, I decided I was unavailable to do the work. (I am not worried about the quality of my work withstanding scrutiny. I am concerned with the time and aggravation associated with having to explain that I did nothing wrong.)
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> Larry P
Not only explaining yourself to a licensing board and having a history of a complaint against you (even if you are found to be correct) what if it escalated to a lawsuit? Sometimes it is cheaper to settle a lawsuit than to pay an attorney to defend you even if you are in the right.
I'm getting off the subject I know, I could just see problems if a difficult client turns in to making an enemy.
(Note, I'm no expert at running a business, just some thoughts.)
I can't see where you would have any legal or ethical obligation to do the work. it does sound like you likely have enough data to make a good estimate as to how much time the new work would take. I would quote a lump sum fee to do the extra work, one on which I'd make a good profit. But if you really want out, I'd write saying "my current backlog does not allow me to take on a project of this sort right now, and refer her elsewhere and tell her you'll be happy to share data with whomever she hires, perhaps for a fee.
The field surveying is XXX amount.
The office time is $150 per hour.
Scope creep is a problem. I have a hard time telling a client NO when they ask for extras, but I only shoot myself in the foot when I fail to draw the line. Wayne's point about a well defined scope is critical, and I would add that once it is defined: STICK TO IT! When a client asks for an extra, before doing it, take the time to explain how it will cost extra for that service. Could it be that this client was never told that she was asking for extras, and now you're sour at having expended so much extra effort for no additional compensation? I dont mean to be critical - I've been there myself.