Public perception of Land Surveying from another forum

somebody remind me why I am in this profession again. Oh yeah, I get to go out in the field sometimes.

Yes, that is exactly how we are perceived. The question is how do we respond? I think the surveyor has done a poor job here of explaining to the client what his costs are. It sounds to me like this proposal includes a ROS filed with a large review fee (I am not a California surveyor so someone please correct me if I am wrong) possibly a building permit applied for and then whatever the survey fees are.

"7 grand for a survey??? I need to take the two week course and become a land surveyor! My last survey was $350, and I thought that kinda high for a 1-2 hour job. And, yes, I know there is some more time back at the office drawing up stuff."

I wish I would have known about this two week course before wasting all that time and schooling to become a licensed surveyor!!

The high price for the B###S### surveys is to get a signed and stamp drawing from the licensed crook, I mean surveyor.

wow! nice response to that comment though!

More likely the surveyor wanted nothing to do with that job. Obviously a little public education may have helped the matter, potentially avoided that thread, and he still wouldn't have had to be bothered doing the survey. Better to refer it to somebody else than leave everybody guessing.

Then again, maybe it was in a very problematic area and actually is a $7K survey??

Some of those replies seemed intelligent enough, but some were just plain out there.

Most entertaining Beer Leg related reading of the week. My favorite is the "surveyors" attaching the price.

lol

It's weird that the guy started off saying he got a few quotes in the $7000 range, then came back and said he'd found someone to map the fences (not set any corners) for $750. I think he may have been pulling their leg a bit with the $7000 figure, but then again, it is California, and I get the impression from reading these boards that they are in a different league when it comes to survey prices. Plus, the cost of filing a survey can be extremely high, too, from what I've read. That was probably factored into the high quotes.

You know, reading that thread reminded me of a bunch of us sitting around posting about politics, health carer, lawyers, etc....

This isn't just about the public perception of surveyors but the perception of a bunch of "know it all's" gripping about something they are not that well informed about ..

It's called Ignorance and the only thing wrong with ignorance is when you refuse to be educated...

Have had a few clients returning to me with the impression that someone has been offering a service to GPS their fenced in area to check against deed acreage for about 1/4 and less the cost of an actual survey. Not sure who they are yet, but I have stopped and looked around where they have done this and the have not set or located any monuments.

I personally think it a very risky venture............

If there isn't already an app for you Iphone to find your corners with GPS, there will be soon. Google may actually a be little closer with Earth, Maps, and their navigation apps. It would only take convincing county assessors to share their GIS data with Google and voila navigate to your corners.

Again, is this an art, profession, or science?

those are not clients i want. those are the low money high energy suckers. there are better things to do to make money than deal with those folks.

> those are not clients i want. those are the low money high energy suckers. there are better things to do to make money than deal with those folks.

Exactly my sentiments. As a matter of fact, I have made a very good living over the years from these folk's neighbors ... after these Bozos have gotten finished "locating" their own corners.

Cuz, On the money....

Just responding to the post comments.

It is possible that there was a quote for $7 K for a diligent quote for the survey! A firm that would have all the insurances, latest gear , fleet of trucks and crews. OR a solo guy like me who surveys to the job not a price!

A $350 quotes for 1 to 2 hours is still way below ball park! Try hiring a plumber . minimum call out fee then $ x bucks per 15 minutes . No fixed maximum ! Yet surveyors say yep it will be $Y and then curse like hell when search records, then curse like hell when get on site as conditions were not those described. then cut corners on surveying to geyt out of their self imposed mess that costs money .

If you charge PEANUTS THEN YOU WILL NEVER GET IN THE BIG LEAGUE of survey work. You will stay in the muddy cesspool battling with all competitive sinking surveyors!

Then of course if you are charging peanuts you are obviously not carrying indemnity insurance... Ho hum..

May sound brutally arrogant but it is the reality. I have survived now nearly 34 years because I refused to offer cheap rates and then deal with trashy clients.

Sorry but many surveyors holding out as surveyors in the US should hang their heads in shame!

RADU

1897 subdivision in San Diego.

The Plat is probably just a diagram with no indication of monuments set or found or anything. That is fairly typical.

There are probably all sorts of issues like fences that don't fit the breakdown from the split of improvements (or whatever they do in that neighborhood).

In California a Deed parcel will require a Record of Survey map be filed and checked (more dollars) unless one has been filed in the past which is unlikely.

The price may be somewhat high but isn't entirely unheard of in that situation. It certainly could be reasonable given the issues or the Surveyor may just be highballing the price to avoid getting the job (annoying client, annoying neighbors, potential of getting sucked into a war with the neighbors).

I love the comments about finding the iron corner pins. Last surveyed in 1897, what's the chance of finding an iron corner pin from that date? Wonder how much development has gone down since 1897? Talk about "open and notorious" poession? I'm not sure that 7 Grand will be enough!

I really enjoyed reading the thread.

It's refreshing to find a group of old guys who are even more cranky than we are.

> Again, is this an art, profession, or science?

Call it what you want, but its a job. There are professional engineers, professional surveyors, lawyers, licensed builders, certified mechanics, licensed well drillers, ad infinitum - doesnt ever stop Joe Public from taking his stab at their attempt at playing one, legality not withstanding.

We've been fighting this issue for the 30= years that I have been involved with the Profession.

One point to consider, and I'm an east coast surveyor so I'm sure all the CA surveyors are aware, is that San Diego has a very difficult past especially regarding those older subdivisions. Didn't Carleton Brown make his living resolving many of the conflicts?

I can't speak to cost of surveying in CA because I know there are many different requirements in CA than MA. I can say that 7K would not be to much to prepare a Land Court plan, in a very difficult area, if you knew going in that there were going to be issues.

I still believe that the responsibility lies with us, the professionals. It is a matter of education of the public, whenever possible. And it can start with what my friend RADU says ..."survey to the job" Don't work cheap and you won't be treated cheaply.

As I said previously, the garage thread simply points out an ignorance that we have permitted, and even encouraged, that the public perception is what we make it to be...

good post foggyidea.

We need to keep in mind that many peoples' perceptions are based on what they can see, hear, read, feel...etc.

I am willing to bet that many surveyors had the wrong "perception" of what surveying was about when they first started.