ring ring ~ bye bye

Good morning Jim, this is Joe Oblivious from Humongous Construction; I'm the site engineer at the big ol' downtown building project and I was checking some out your guys building control. Look like some of the points are out by as much as 0.003'

Click

Hey Jim, Joe Oblivious again, I guess we were cut off...

No we weren't...click.

This might be a teachable moment, but maybe not depending on how well you know the requester. When people start out by saying they had some figure in mind it either means that's all they are willing to spend or that is a number given to them by some well-meaning, semi-informed party (realtor, banker, title worker, Uncle Joe).

Had a ring ring a couple of days ago that I'm pretty sure won't be calling back. They have one of those bastard metes and bounds tracts that is one of about 15 split from a 40-acre tract one at a time over many years ending maybe 50 years ago. They look across the street at the neat lot and block layout where they've heard a survey runs $500-600 and then go into shock at the likelihood that their project will run two to three times that amount. Their true problem is that they bought this tract without realizing what it meant to have three different access easements running across the south 30 feet of it. They feel that the users of the easements are using a wider strip but can't really enforce anything without knowing the true location of the boundary line and the 30-foot offset. Yes, its a pain in the rear but is it worth $1000-$2000 to find out whether they are correct or if the easement users are correct.

I know how that goes. The majority of my work is for production builders so that doesn’t happen very often. What really pisses people off is that I charge an absolute minimum of $300 for an elevation certificate. You ought to hear some of them! Sometimes they completely blow a gasket and get in the stroke out zone. I can’t repeat what language they use but I’ve learned some neat cuss words. :-O

I was told I was too cheap at $1,000 for an elevation certificate.

I am glad to live in my part of the country. The fees elsewhere would make me quit the profession.

I know the problem.
I have met the enemy.
He is us.
(reworded from a famous quote)

Some consumers will never understand, and I don't blame you. But it probably a good idea to try to see it from their perspective. They don't see a difference in the products between different surveyor except for the price. One guy quotes, $500, another quotes $850, and another qoutes $1500, the realtor tells them they shouldn't have to pay more than $200. Wouldn't most private property owners ask why the big difference? Why should I pay you that amount when I can get the exact same product from that guy over there for a third or less?

How do you explain to the private citizen your value and the value of using your service than getting that realtor to find you someone?

It's awfully frustrating some days. Seems like everyone wants us to work for NOTHING...

then I come here to beerleg for a little commiseration Only to see constant banner ads for "Florida surveys only $275, FEMA's for $50" or some such nonsense.

I know these are the normal these days, but it doesn't make me feel any better about our profession.

Sigh.

Ring, ring.
"Dendy Engineering and Surveying" I say.

" how much do you charge......" Are the first words I hear most of the time.
They are price shopping, and I start asking a few questions to get a ballpark figure.
I learned a long time ago that I need to get a gut feeling on whether or not they want me to do the work. They are obviously looking to get a number that is cheaper than the other guy, and it does NOT matter what I will be doing or why. They only want the price.

I try to feel them out quick, because I am spending productive time trying to explain what the required work will be, knowing full well that once I quote a ballpark figure, they usually end the call. If they start asking more questions, then I spend the time to talk to them. I stand a good chance of landing them as a new client.

Hard truth - it is a price-driven world we work for. Thank goodness for our past satisfied clients and their word of mouth recommendations.

On the brighter side, my, buttercups are blooming and it is 28 degrees and sunny outside. No snakes, chiggers, ticks and skeeters yet! 😀

:good:

When people start the conversation with "How much ...?"

My first response is "As much as I can get away with".

Laugh a little and if they haven't hung up we can then have a serious discussion.

I charge $300 to get out of bed in the morning. Just a question of who is going to pay. Me or them. B-)

"How much?"

I always reply," How much you got? "

It always breaks the ice..

I like the callers that start right out of the chute with, " We don't need a survey. We just need someone to find the pins. "

When they say, "We don't need a survey..", I always ask, " Then why did you call a surveyor? "

One fella told me he just needed someone to dig the pins up, he knew 'about' where they were at...

I told him ACE had a good deal on shovels. 😉

I really am getting grumpy in my old age....

try adblock in your browser:-)

:good: Yeah, I would do the occasional EC for $800 or 900. Admittedly, they weren't my bread and butter, so someone else could surely do it a little more efficiently. But not 2 or 3 times as efficiently. Why do some here work for so little? Are things really so wonderful in some geographic locations that it is worth staying there even if you get paid pennies on the dollar?

Barely making a profit is the economy's way of telling you "We need you to do something else. Please change sectors or locations and we will pay you more."

"How much?"

Even with clients who have already committed to having me do the job prior to asking how much it will cost my normal first answer is "Too danged much". Then I go on to explain that virtually everything of value we buy anymore is "Too danged much", whether it be vehicle tires, insurance, building supplies or anything else to which they can easily relate. It's true. The older we get, the more we can remember about times when a dollar bought much more than it does today.

I want my nickel candy bar and dime bottle of orange pop to come back. Twelve cans of Coke for a $1.00 on special at the grocery store. Hamburger and fries combined was 40 cents plus about two cents tax.

"How much?"

Paden, you might be getting grumpy in your old age but you still have a great sense of humor. I always figure if you can get someone to relax and laugh a little, half the battle is won.

> It's awfully frustrating some days. Seems like everyone wants us to work for NOTHING...
>

What's even more frustrating is that they usually seem to find someone who will.

"How much?"

paden and Ingram: Great tips. I like the idea of breaking the ice with a little humor. At the same time you are kindly letting them know that you are not embarrassed to ask for money, and that you don't just, gee, love surveying so much that you'll cut your own throat to do it!

"How much?"

>
>
> I want my nickel candy bar and dime bottle of orange pop to come back. Twelve cans of Coke for a $1.00 on special at the grocery store. Hamburger and fries combined was 40 cents plus about two cents tax.

Believe it or not I saw 7-up 12 pack of cans for $1.47 at Sams Club

"How much?"

I often tell people that THIS is NOT a hobby. I do this for a living.