Shysters! How can there be so many of them?
Some of you may recall a thread I started back in mid-August asking if surveys were a dime a dozen in Tyler, Texas. I had been called by a fellow from there about doing a simple boundary survey here. Just the four corners of the rectangle plus show where three easements affecting the tract are located based on provided title commitment. I shot him a decent number and he was outraged. Why, he had never heard of such ridiculous numbers and he had been involved in over 250 transactions in the past 12 months.
As you have probably guessed by now, he called back in early September to tell me he wanted me to do the job. So I sent him an agreement as to the terms. Guess what. I clearly didn't understand several things. I was to show the location of the large commercial/industrial building as well. That was news to me. I told him what it would take additional. That was far too much. He had contacted another firm and they had quoted a couple hundred less for the whole deal than what I had just told him. I should have ended it all right there. Foolish me! I agreed to meet that price and sent him an updated agreement stating the terms of the transaction. He agreed.
OK, now the job is done and delivered. He is upset. I was supposed to show other things on the plat. I referred him to the agreement to which he had agreed. So he goes into the whole "I said/you said/we agreed" crock of lies routine. Eventually, I had to hang up on him as he was getting very rude.
Next mistake. I answered the phone a few minutes later despite knowing it was him calling. I'm a blankedty blank, blank, blank, blankedty blank and so forth and so on. I calmly explained that he was provided precisely what he had agreed was the task at hand and that was that. He then offered other threats to injure my customer base, which I found rather amusing. So we parted ways.
Oh, BTW, I have already been paid through a third party. My fee compared to one-quarter of one percent of the purchase price of the property.
I have a feeling this guy needs several things added to the plat. Some other lucky soul is going to have to handle that challenge. I will not be doing anything more for him.
I'm up to "DON'T ANSWER 197 " in my cell phone directory. Couldn't tell you who there are (or were). Add this fella's number to yours.
You are not alone. I too had one this week. Just like you my agreement clearly states what is included and what is not. That did not matter to this client, he felt a survey should include x, y and of course always z.
Why was he so enthusiastic to have you perform the survey? Was it a tricky one or had he just exhausted the patience of all the other surveyors in the area?
Earlier this year we were referred for the boundary survey by a PE/PLS firm in the area who could not handle the boundary. It was a tricky one.
He probably assumed he had found a local bumpkin who could be coerced into doing an ALTA survey for a "driveby wink wink survey" price. Trying to shave a thousand dollars off of what will be a million dollar deal before it is all done.
What it sounds like to me?
"I was just released from parole from TDCJ and broke out of the telemarketing business into real estate and acquisitions."
Take heart, yon Bovine, I may have found one of the relatives to call block:
Profesyonal framer that knowes city codes (Katy Houston)
..or hell, maybe one of these guys..
Is Kansas an emerging market? 😀
