We get $200/hr+ ($250/hr+ for PW) for a field crew when doing construction. We also get around $110/hr for a CAD tech (more for a senior tech). Thats more than any developer will ever pay. I'll take it!
Otherwise...great words to do business by!
Tom
> 1) Answer your phone when it rings
> 2) Under promise and over deliver
> 3) You can't do all things for all clients
> 4) Do what do and do it well
> 5) Treat your employees as family
> 6) Don't ask an employee to do something that you wouldn't do
> 7) Don't lie - Ever
> 8) Correct problems - Immediately
> 9) Don't over charge
> 10)Don't do construction work
Can't really disagree with any of it. I also agree with just about all of the above statements after my 25 yrs in business, with the following comments:
1) That's why caller ID is our friend, as is voice mail. Just make sure to call back once they leave a message.
7) What, no client has ever lied to you. Especially now that 10 days = 30 days and sometimes even 60+.
9) Charging the value of the product to the customer that may make you a wonderful fee beyond normal, is not over charging.
10) I would re-word that to "I prefer not to do construction staking, but what do you need". Fees accordingly.
But you nailed it with 3 & 8.
11) Remember this is a business, not a hobby. We're here to make a profit.
Great post, thanks for volunteering this wisdom
Excellent list. I can only aspire to #10 someday.
We need 3 skill sets:
1. Surveying
2. Running a Business
3. Making Money
They all overlap somewhat. If your are good enough at 2 of them you can get by being poor at the third.
Great List...I now need to find a chisel and a couple of stone tablets.:-D
I would add past tense to number 6. If I limit my projects to those I can still physically do we will have to close the doors... As for number 10 I have mixed thoughts. We generally stay away from staking unless we did the boundary and topo...
Great Post Bob
Greetings Bob,
42 years in practice...couldn't have put it (re your list) any better.
At my age I work because I love what I do, and stay excited like a kid with every new leap in technology. In 1971 bought a Wang Laboratories 720C computer, and the Wild T2/DI-10 Distomat measuring system. Started with GPS in the early 90's with Trimble 4000SSE's. Now, getting up to speed in digital photogrammetry and multirotor sUAS systems. Life is exciting. Still pursuing a never ending life long dream of someday finding the ultimate proficient and accurate combination of software-hardware-field and office technique to eliminate 'all' of the work component. What I want is the fun part... which for me is investigating, studying and solving challenging boundaries after I collect all the data with fun stuff. Then showing it all on neatly drawn maps (which because of technology is now akin to playing computer games).
I am happy for you that you are looking forward to retirement. I sincerely hope you have many enjoyable and fulfilling years of retirement. You have earned it! God willing I will be among the fewer than 1% who would work to 100 if I live that long, and have the health to continue. But, it will not be in construction. Everyone else can have all the construction work they want if that is what they enjoy, or if money is where its all at for them.
ibenhavin
youbenhavin(?)
Great Post Bob
Ben,
I look forward to a project together...
DDSM
(Living the Dream)
:beer:
Great Post Bob
Thanks Dan. Hope work is plentiful for you. Sure could be better here.
