Does the client that purchased a survey have the ability to resell the plat of survey assuming that he changes nothing and marks it "Copy"??ÿ If the client can legally sell a copy of his plat, then it would be unethical (or perhaps just in poor taste) for the PLS to sell the same without first contacting him.?ÿ If your state would consider the resale of a plat, by the client, to be practicing surveying, then there would be no ethical conflict, just bad manners.
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Let me be clear, I would NEVER give away or sell a survey at a discounted price.?ÿ I do not hand out copies of plats to anyone other than PLSs or the client.?ÿ Just changing the date on a plat creates a new survey and I charge full price based on the original $150/hour multiplier I used to estimate cost.?ÿ?ÿ
This happens all the time to us. We send a field crew out with the prior survey, they check everything, note the changes, then we issue a new one with the current date...
We do this as well as locate all subject boundary corners shown.
T. Nelson - SAM
Does the client that purchased a survey have the ability to resell the plat of survey assuming that he changes nothing and marks it "Copy"??ÿ If the client can legally sell a copy of his plat, then it would be unethical (or perhaps just in poor taste) for the PLS to sell the same without first contacting him.?ÿ If your state would consider the resale of a plat, by the client, to be practicing surveying, then there would be no ethical conflict, just bad manners.
I don't think anyone here is arguing that the surveyor should take the old survey and sell it to a new client.
There is value in what we have in our files. We keep this information for just this purpose. Now if you consider that value can be in the form of $ or goodwill, or necessary that is our choice. This situation happens to me often. Never would I just send a map with another clients name on it without their permission or knowledge and if I were to put the new "clients" name on it, I would at minimum make a site visit. I never allow a client to have a CAD file; those are reserved for their professional architect, engineer or designer and carry stipulations as to sharing it.?ÿ?ÿ
My latest concern is with a particular city requiring CAD files of site plans, surveys, as-builts so that they can "import the data into their GIS". Besides the fact that they are not my client or that I can't stamp and sign a CAD file, they may have an obligation to provide said CAD file to anyone who requests it through a freedom of information request. In that case the OP would have no choice or question as to who is paying for our services or how the data is used. Keep in mind that various requirements may change as to how we portray our vertical datum and horizontal meridian. What may have been okay four years ago may not work today.?ÿ
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The common sense associated with business acumen among some seems to have disappeared. In my experience these surveyors are the first to whine they are broke, but yet they are the low ballers. Surveying has been financially rewarding for me.?ÿ ??ÿ
The common sense associated with business acumen among some seems to have disappeared. In my experience these surveyors are the first to whine they are broke, but yet they are the low ballers. Surveying has been financially rewarding for me.?ÿ ??ÿ
When I was at ETSU 18 years ago, we had a senior class where we were split up into groups and each group was a "survey company".?ÿ We had to set a budget and bid groups of jobs that came out.?ÿ There were also wild cards we would draw such as "rained three days this week" or "truck broke down".?ÿ One group in particular got ripped because they had plenty of work, but they weren't making any money.?ÿ The professor bluntly told them, "If you've got more work than you can do, but you aren't making any money, you aren't charging enough."
I know a surveyor that is booked up for several months.?ÿ In the past he has told me how he isn't making very much money.?ÿ Now, he's a fine man, and a decent enough surveyor, and he's not?ÿa severe lowballer.?ÿ However, if you're backed up that far, you need to increase your rates.
Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living.
The common sense associated with business acumen among some seems to have disappeared. In my experience these surveyors are the first to whine they are broke, but yet they are the low ballers. Surveying has been financially rewarding for me.?ÿ ??ÿ
When I was at ETSU 18 years ago, we had a senior class where we were split up into groups and each group was a "survey company".?ÿ We had to set a budget and bid groups of jobs that came out.?ÿ There were also wild cards we would draw such as "rained three days this week" or "truck broke down".?ÿ One group in particular got ripped because they had plenty of work, but they weren't making any money.?ÿ The professor bluntly told them, "If you've got more work than you can do, but you aren't making any money, you aren't charging enough."
I know a surveyor that is booked up for several months.?ÿ In the past he has told me how he isn't making very much money.?ÿ Now, he's a fine man, and a decent enough surveyor, and he's not?ÿa severe lowballer.?ÿ However, if you're backed up that far, you need to increase your rates.
Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living.
That sounds like a great class, we never did anything like that at my school, however the Professor in charge of the program would tell us at the end of every class that Surveyors never charge enough and we need to raise our rates, charge for the value of the product not the time it took us.?ÿ They are only getting a Survey to protect their interest or to sell and make a profit, we need to get paid since everyone else in the deal is getting paid.?ÿ
That would be a great continuing education class divide the class in groups, and at lunch time have a nice long chat in the courtyard with the group who is low-balling.?ÿ
"Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living."
Amen brother we are booked solid for the next 4 months with more coming in.?ÿ?ÿ ??ÿ
The common sense associated with business acumen among some seems to have disappeared. In my experience these surveyors are the first to whine they are broke, but yet they are the low ballers. Surveying has been financially rewarding for me.?ÿ ??ÿ
It has been rewarding for me also.?ÿ There have been other endeavors that paid better (and still do) but Surveying was always my financial base.
Do any of you advertise?
how much money and time do you spend?Sometimes a quick update or simple copy, for Free, goes a long long way. Depends on the client and the project, but think about it.
Good point.
If this request came from one of my sources of referrals that currently feed me work like architects, builders, realtors, attorneys in town that I KNOW are loyal to me, I'd probably just send it out. Those folks are my livelihood as they allow me to not have to compete entirely on price. That's huge!
This particular call came from someone random that just reached out because we are close by.
You know your market... go for it. BTW: I have gotten work, the kind of work I actually Like, from some strange places.
Word Of Mouth, or the modern equivalent, goes a long way.
That would be a great continuing education class divide the class in groups, and at lunch time have a nice long chat in the courtyard with the group who is low-balling.?ÿ
It would be great and I have actually tried calling Jeff Lucas to discuss this very thing. I think he would be a great speaker with his fire and brimstone preacher style of public speaking.
Now I must confess that I am being a tiny bit of a wiseass here but I doubt you could offer a class like that in Georgia. As soon as the topic of money, fees, prices, etc were mentioned a whole bunch of people would stand up and huff & puff and remind everyone how those folks in Arkansas were sued and we cannot be seen to appear be price fixing. It has paralyzed us from any discussion of the subject where even here we get folks who remind us of it.
"Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living."
Amen brother we are booked solid for the next 4 months with more coming in.?ÿ?ÿ ??ÿ
4 months??ÿ You're not charging enough. ??ÿ
"Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living."
Amen brother we are booked solid for the next 4 months with more coming in.?ÿ?ÿ ??ÿ
4 months??ÿ You're not charging enough. ??ÿ
They are just large housing tracts currently under development. Our clients prefer we are under contract prior to house construction. Believe me Tommy I charge plenty, in fact more than my competitors, but for some strange reason they prefer us. Go figure.?ÿ ??ÿ
"Right now, with the war the market is here in this region, if you aren't making money surveying, you need to find some other way to make a living."
Amen brother we are booked solid for the next 4 months with more coming in.?ÿ?ÿ ??ÿ
4 months??ÿ You're not charging enough. ??ÿ
They are just large housing tracts currently under development. Our clients prefer we are under contract prior to house construction. Believe me Tommy I charge plenty, in fact more than my competitors, but for some strange reason they prefer us. Go figure.?ÿ ??ÿ
You must be doing something right.?ÿ It's certainly not because of your looks.