Friday and today was extremely slow.
I usually receive 15-20 phone calls/inquires a day
Friday I only had 3 calls
Today I only had 4 calls
I hate to admit it, but the only jobs I got today was by under bidding
Phone calls? I had one last week. I submitted a plat for review today, hopefully be done by Wednesday or Thursday, and then that's probably it for the year... Hopefully after the 1st the phone will start ringing again.
Our conventional surveying has been very quiet the last 6 months.
Quite a few companies out there buying jobs through serious underquoting.
Fortunately we're diversified and are doing other work. I don't like races to the bottom.
> Our conventional surveying has been very quiet the last 6 months.
>
> Quite a few companies out there buying jobs through serious underquoting.
>
> Fortunately we're diversified and are doing other work. I don't like races to the bottom.
:good: :good:
> Friday and today was extremely slow.
> I usually receive 15-20 phone calls/inquires a day
>
> Friday I only had 3 calls
> Today I only had 4 calls
>
> I hate to admit it, but the only jobs I got today was by under bidding
There's something about this post that just....
Well, nevermind.
Where are you, again, Mr. ..ah... Port?
Don
> > Friday and today was extremely slow.
> > I usually receive 15-20 phone calls/inquires a day
> >
> > Friday I only had 3 calls
> > Today I only had 4 calls
> >
> > I hate to admit it, but the only jobs I got today was by under bidding
>
> There's something about this post that just....
> Well, nevermind.
> Where are you, again, Mr. ..ah... Port?
>
> Don
:good: :good:
After a little over 3 years of self employment, I've come to expect Dec., Jan., & Feb. to be Slower than the rest of the year. My business mostly relies on land transactions, it's probably a couple of factors that cause this. I'd think people not wanting to move around the holidays and people not wanting to move while their kids are in school are the two biggest causes of the summer surge and the winter slow down.
Work Load -- back log, hiring
We have picked up quite a bit in the last few months. We have also landed a couple of large projects that will take most of the winter to complete.
Diversity, technology and efficiency are key. Reputation goes a long way too (we are one of the most expensive firms in the area, but people know they receive a great service from us).
We are looking to hire another crew, if you happen to know anyone in the area looking for work.
by UNDERBIDDING . . . or bidding low
There's a big difference between the two and I hope you actually got a job by bidding low, not by actually UNDERBIDDING another surveyor's bid to . . . well, cut his legs from under him.
I've always said everyone sets their own price . . . some high some low.
In good times prices generally go up, in bad times prices generally go low.
I have had jobs that I've bid low . . . and almost always regretted it.
BUT, I have never underbid to get a job. This to me, would be a little too purposeful.
I wonder how long it'll take for survey hunters to take full advantage of surveyors taking turns underbidding one another with each alternate call from a potential client.
I see underbidding against other surveyor's stated prices as being very hurtful to the business as a whole.
by UNDERBIDDING . . . or bidding low
> In good times prices generally go up, in bad times prices generally go low.
Only in the surveying world, because so many are poor businessmen.
Y'all better make hay while the sun is shining.
Feast or Famine, there is no in between anymore. I have nothing to do this week... no surveys, no proposals, no billing, no nothing.
We traveled 3 states the last three weeks doing sizable projects. I specialize in two main types of projects (1) is not competitive, pays out the ying-yang... and did I mention that we don't really compete with anyone? (2) competition is fierce if more than one Surveyor looks at it... and the prices for Surveys are falling.
Y'all better make hay while the sun is shining.
Been busy, normal for year end. What's not is we're booked into Feb. Usually Jan. and Feb. are our down months. We're busting up farms now to beat the hirer tax rates in the new year, not unusual but we're turning away some of those jobs that have to be done before the end of the year. What's odd is all the boundary line disputes that we're picking up. Only do a couple a year, just picked up 4 in the last week.
Y'all better make hay while the sun is shining.
Underbidding, low prices for "professional" services, and an increase in boundary disputes.
Golly Gee, I wonder if there is a connection............
Naw, couldn't be. Never mind, carry on.
Y'all better make hay while the sun is shining.
:good:
Your prices need to rise when work slows. Do your bills decline?
If you keep underbidding projects then soon enough you'll be paying to work!!!!
Stop the race to the bottom...
Disturbing
"...the only jobs I got today was by under bidding"
That's really disturbing. Thanks for helping us remain professionals...
I did not intend to offend anyone
I'm just speaking the truth and I'm doing what I need to do to secure income.
The fact of the matter is, that the overwhelming number of surveyors that run their own business do exactly the same thing that I'm doing. Anyway- My business model seems to work, as my company has been in business for over 30 years
I have had my own business for 15 year and historically this time of year is the busiest.
Same this year.
Randy
> I have had my own business for 15 year and historically this time of year is the busiest.
>
> Same this year.
>
> Randy
Not that way here
never has been either
Just say'n
There's nothing wrong with underbidding . . .
If the underbidding is the terminology you use when you drastically reduce the costs of a survey to the point where you "know", it'll be lower than any one else . . . so be it.
But, if underbidding means you've been given someone else's price and then use that price to determine your price in order to give a lower price to take that job from another surveyor . . . that's so wrong.
I say everyone prices jobs as they see fit and if a surveyor wants to do a 10 acre survey for $300, that's his/her business.
I say if you knew the job was $800, but you just generally don't believe you need more than $500 . . . that's just business . . . maybe not "good" business, but nonetheless, just business.
Maybe all this is nothing more than semantics . . . but I don't think so.