2-days ago..
Client: "I need to know how much you guys charge for a survey, and when is the soonest you can get out"
Me: "Our fees are xxx-xxx per/hr, what have you got"
Client: "Well, the city inspector is making me have a survey because we poured footers, and are forming the walls. I already had my corners marked"
Me: "Ok... what are your corner marked with?"
Client: "My buddy works for XX Construction, and he brought out his GPS, we shot in the subdivision corners, and he pin flagged my lot corners. The City guy said they had to be a rebar and cap set by a licensed surveyor. My setbacks are 5', and we pulled 5.5'"
Me: ":'( , Sounds like it will be a good idea if we come and survey your lot"
This morning, after negotiations, and a baffled owner regarding our fees...
Looks like it is 5' from the fence, what's the problem?:-P
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Typing class 9th grade!
gotta love it, however does the regs say 5' or 5.0'?
In this instance, Thank god for the city guy.
Ouch! At least the city inspector made the good call before it got any worse!
I once spent a good bit of time trying to make a set of McMansion plans fit a lot on a S/D I had done, and I had to tell the landowner his architect boned him.
The variance cost the landowner a few thou$and to get the house he wanted on the lot he owned, but it could have been much worse. The builder had been down this road before with the same architect, and was the one who called me to mark the house corners and setbacks.
Everyone got to earn their pay that day...
Funny thing is, the city inspector recommended to the guy prior to the footer pour to get his line surveyed. His idea of survey was to get his construction buddy with a GPS unit to set red pin flags at "his corners". City inspector was not amused I assume.
I've worked in municipalities where the building permit requires a certificate of placement before the stem wall pour, to be completed by a licensed surveyor.
I knew this was coming! I thought the same thing when I saw the picture. It's a little deceiving, but the fence is rolled back, and the monument is within .1' of fence line.
You'll be happy to note I accepted a bent over rebar that was .2' from my calculated position. Could have gotten more money from the client for the picture than the survey.
I just loving touching stories like yours. Everybody's a surveyor until someone demands proof of licensure. These are the stories we all need to have tucked away in our minds to use as examples of what can happen when people attempt to short cut a required procedure.
What did the buddy use for numbers to put in his GPS? City GIS?
I'd like to add, "Everyone's a surveyor until someone calls looking for someone to back charge."
Well now you can charge him to prepare the necessary documents to apply for a variance if the municipality allows it.
Have a great weekend! B-)
> What did the buddy use for numbers to put in his GPS? City GIS?
Not sure, I was told by the owner that he came off of the section corner. Maybe a rotational thing (different BOBs..)
A construction worker that knew what a section corner was and how to use it? My BS detector is tingling.
> Funny thing is, the city inspector recommended to the guy prior to the footer pour to get his line surveyed. His idea of survey was to get his construction buddy with a GPS unit to set red pin flags at "his corners". City inspector was not amused I assume.
>
> I've worked in municipalities where the building permit requires a certificate of placement before the stem wall pour, to be completed by a licensed surveyor.
So, will you report him to your board?
That sucks. I hate to bring the bad news. Did you find the red pin flags? How far were they off? If that's a lot corner, it actually looks like the foundation is over the (rear?) line.
I do Zoning and Code Enforcement for a small municipality. There are frequent occasions when I would like to demand a survey before issuing a permit but I can't.