paden cash, post: 424843, member: 20 wrote: It's reasonable to assume that those that only feel comfortable being compensated for their time are unsure of their ability to provide even rudimentary results in any given situation.
That might possibly be a point had not all of the fixed price surveyors who have testified thus far (including possibly a fellow from the Red Dusty Plains of Okieland) mentioned the situations in which they had found themselves in which their fixed prices were woefully inadequate as compensation for the services that were needed.
The surveyor is usually singled out of the herd and expected to jump thru hoops...........
No one else in the mix between the buying and selling of property till new owner moves in are hardly ever ask to lower their fees.
Not the Real Estate Agent, they usually raise the price for their share and more.
Not the Mortgage Company, they play with points better than a casino.
Not the Title Company, price set by law.
Not the Bug Inspector, they have licenses and hazmat services to perform.
Not the Appraiser, and what is it that they do that is justifiable, oh yea, low price for the people that hire them and big price for who they sell to.
Not the County Clerk for recording fees, set by law.
I remind them every time one of them that my fee is not a drop in the bucket compared to theirs.
The gloves stay on and no exceptions should be made.
:no_entry_sign:
Kent McMillan, post: 424844, member: 3 wrote: No, my opinion is based upon what constitutes an acceptable SERVICE as judged by a sophisticated client. Major difference.
Obviously all of the pirate ships captained by surveyors bearing Letters of Marque issued by some sovereign and plying the sea lanes between Clientstown and Closingsville will have quite remarkable ideas about why their fees are "acceptable".
If clients dictated price wether it be surveying, medical practice, legal
TXSurveyor, post: 424851, member: 6719 wrote: If clients dictated price wether it be surveying, medical practice, legal
And what should Paden Cash conclude that this means? (I'm asking for him because he's too polite to do so.)
Kent McMillan, post: 424844, member: 3 wrote: No, my opinion is based upon what constitutes an acceptable SERVICE as judged by a sophisticated client. Major difference.
Obviously all of the pirate ships captained by surveyors bearing Letters of Marque issued by some sovereign and plying the sea lanes between Clientstown and Closingsville will have quite remarkable ideas about why their fees are "acceptable".
Clients shouldn't dictate price.
TXSurveyor, post: 424855, member: 6719 wrote: Clients shouldn't dictate price.
So, in other words, surveyors shouldn't assist clients in price shopping by quoting fixed fees? I feel certain that Paden will want to know what your stand on this one is.
Kent McMillan, post: 424856, member: 3 wrote: So, in other words, surveyors shouldn't assist clients in price shopping by quoting fixed fees? I feel certain that Paden will want to know what your stand on this one is.
If you think not giving someone a fixed price prohibits a client from price shopping, you are stupider than I thought Forrest
TXSurveyor, post: 424858, member: 6719 wrote: If you think not giving someone a fixed price prohibits a client from price shopping, you are stupider than I thought Forrest
But what promotes price shopping better than quoting a MSRP? Nothing?
Kent McMillan, post: 424859, member: 3 wrote: But what promotes price shopping better than quoting a MSRP? Nothing?
Possibly price shopping for surveyors that charge the lowest hourly rate?
Oh wait, you probably can't really divulge your hourly rate until you've researched it thoroughly..
paden cash, post: 424860, member: 20 wrote: Possibly price shopping for surveyors that charge the lowest hourly rate?
It's possible, but much less of a problem than quoting a flat MSRP. How much variation is there in the rates that plumbers charge is there, for example?
Kent McMillan, post: 424859, member: 3 wrote: But what promotes price shopping better than quoting a MSRP? Nothing?
You can't change the fact that most people want to know what something is going to cost them before they commit.
31 out of what is now 73.
To what could I possibly be referring?
Holy Cow, post: 424874, member: 50 wrote: 31 out of what is now 73.
To what could I possibly be referring?
I'll take 'Fictional writings in this thread' for 100 dollars Alex...
TXSurveyor, post: 424869, member: 6719 wrote: You can't change the fact that most people want to know what something is going to cost them before they commit.
Times have changed and we've all missed the boat, cost is no longer an issue and an open checkbook policy is the only ethical way to survey a boundary.
TXSurveyor, post: 424869, member: 6719 wrote: You can't change the fact that most people want to know what something is going to cost them before they commit.
So, are you thinking that you're prevented from giving a good faith estimate of likely range of costs that gets updated as the project moves along? A good surveyor will try to give an accurate estimate, but an ethical surveyor won't be looking for ways to make the work fit the price when it really just doesn't.
Kent McMillan, post: 424925, member: 3 wrote: So, are you thinking that you're prevented from giving a good faith estimate of likely range of costs that gets updated as the project moves along?
That would personally be my last choice of contract structure. If possible I'd go fixed fee with contingency clause, second option would be hourly rates on an estimate, then the third would be a situation where you charge for research to give an estimate and maybe include contract phasing. Obviously, with any of them, you'de have to let the client know immediately if something went south.
roger_LS, post: 424944, member: 11550 wrote: That would personally be my last choice of contract structure. If possible I'd go fixed fee with contingency clause,
Just out of curiosity, what sort of contingencies do you typically provide for on boundary surveys? I assume that it isn't something like all the boundary markers not being in place and already flagged up. Do you assume that you'll have to file corner records or records of survey or is that one of the contingent extras?
Better call Saul...
Kent McMillan, post: 424950, member: 3 wrote: Just out of curiosity, what sort of contingencies do you typically provide for on boundary surveys? I assume that it isn't something like all the boundary markers not being in place and already flagged up. Do you assume that you'll have to file corner records or records of survey or is that one of the contingent extras?
I use a general statement that if major boundary problems are encountered, additional work may be required, and use the clause at my own discretion. It doesn't get used very often and is not for cases where it just took a little longer than expected, major stuff. It gives you an out if you run into a huge problem and provides an avenue to solve problems that can't be solved by a surveyor alone.
roger_LS, post: 424958, member: 11550 wrote: I use a general statement that if major boundary problems are encountered, additional work may be required, and use the clause at my own discretion. It doesn't get used very often and is not for cases where it just took a little longer than expected, major stuff. It gives you an out if you run into a huge problem and provides an avenue to solve problems that can't be solved by a surveyor alone.
Do you describe in any detail what will constitute "major boundary problems" or just assume that your client will rely upon you to make that determination?
