Ring..Ring!!

"I had the first survey done for $350!"
That's why there is a problem with the neighbor.

If a client is so rude as to call you on Sunday, never bother returning that call. It is someone you do not want to work for.

I'd bet, now that they are having problems with the neighbor, they need to call a real surveyor. They can't get the unlicensed $350-guy to certify anything. It's a guy who is intelligent enough to put stakes on a line between a couple of existing monuments he found.

I wouldn't totally write them off yet, depending on how the dispute progresses.

"What do you mean the price is now $4000- that's more than what you said the first time I called you."

"It's what we call the 'I told you so' mark-up."

😛

I talked to the Georgia board of registration president a few years ago.
A surveyor filed a complaint against another competitor for sloppy work.
Most BOR's frown upon competitor complaints.

The sloppy surveyor brought one of his clients and some letters of recommendations.
The response was, 'He survey cheap and fast which I like. He screws up once and a while
which I don't mind.'

I think I will stay in Texas.

So she can't find a copy of her previous survey BUT CAN remember how much it cost?

I'm not buying it.

BTW, I will survey just one line. That doesn't mean I don't check in with the other corners and it doesn't mean my price is any less, but the client "feels" they are getting what they asked for.

> I talked to the Georgia board of registration president a few years ago.
> A surveyor filed a complaint against another competitor for sloppy work.
> Most BOR's frown upon competitor complaints.

Now in Alabama a complaint against a PLS or PE must be attested to by another PLS or PE.

> Got a phone call yesterday..on Sunday which I don't usually take, but being that I just started out on my own I thought I would return the call and see what shakes.

SNIP
> Caller: "good I need a survey of my property, but I only need one line run. I had a survey of it a while ago and the stakes are still there we are having problems with our neigbor on our backside and the sheriff is going to be out here tomorrow"

SNIP
>I will need to check it against all other lines, which will require the survey of the entire lot...How big is your lot?"
> Caller: "about 10 acres..How much is it going to cost? We need you out here tomorrow."
> Me: "about 2000-3000 dollars"
> Caller: "what? that's ridiculous!"
> Me: "well considering everything involved and the time frame that is going to be the range"
> Caller: "I had the first survey done for $350!"
> Me: "Then I would suggest you give him a call. Thank you for calling."

SNIP

Don't know what your state laws allow. However, $350 sounds like a mortgage inspection. On 10 acres just enough to make sure buildings are on the property. Prior surveyor may have been lucky enough to rough tape (wheel) & recover all existing pins. More likely just front corners & remainder from record. Approximate building location and go!!

Thirty minutes on site and the same in the office. The general public figures nothing should take more than that. If you need more time it indicates to most people you don't know your job.

Most doctors spend only a few minutes with a patient. People don't think about the time required to process lab tests, review results & consult with other doctors. Twenty minutes in the waiting room, ten minutes with doc, ten minutes waiting room for lab, 5 minutes to draw blood. That is all most people see or think about.

Surveying can't be nearly as complex so we should be able to do it in a fraction of the time.

Maybe the neighbor will not be so cheap when he hires you to survey the line.

I think Dallas Morlan nailed it, I bet the $350 item was a Mortgage Loan Inspection and thus the property has never actually been surveyed at all. I get this all the time, quite often I did the M.L.I. & they call and say "You surveyed my land back in 1988 and now I want to...."