Last year I did an ALTA survey for a client in a neighboring town. A small nursing home that I know the owner of, and have done other survey work for him at his house. His daughter and my daughter are good friends being classmates for a few years now.
So now he is refinancing the balance of the Nursing home, the assisted living site across the street.
I know that spledeus will recall this as he accused me of low balling and I accused him of gouging! (In out local friendly way, that is.) I was right he was gouging though! 🙂
So this time I work up a price, $6,600. It's a smaller site and less detail to worry about. I felt this was a fair price.
Well before I could get my proposal to him, like 12 hours after our first contact and as I was drawing up our proposal, I received an email from him to hold up. He says, "I am working with a different loaner on this re-fi and they have a standard survey charge of $3,600 for this project and they will take care of everything for the $3,600.
I wrote back that this type of survey brokering is a problem in our profession, and how surveying is local and not cookie cutter, but that I do understand from his point of view, $3000 is $3000. I probably could have gotten the job for $3,600, but I didn't want it "bad enough" to participate in this race to the bottom.
He wrote back, said he appreciated my candor.
And so it goes.
Meanwhile, this morning I was here at daybreak this morning. About a half mile off shore from Crowes Pasture, Dennis MA.
That's me to the left and my buddy Paul driving.
Just so you know, I'm not complaining, I do understand competition. There are just areas I prefer not to compete in.
The value of the ALTA for the nursing home was a bit more than $6,600, but that's how it goes. I generally won't touch an ALTA for so little.
You're right, the nursing home was a bit more than $6,600, just not quite into the 5 digits 😉
I wonder what his actual, final price will be? Curious to know if he runs into any fee creepage.
I think all ALTAs should be in the 5 digits.
Don-
Is this a pic of you being involved in 'linear hydrology' ?
YOS
TNAI
> Don-
>
> Is this a pic of you being involved in 'linear hydrology' ?
>
> YOS
>
> TNAI
Appears to be more of a survey of aquatic population. Hope you are properly licensed for such endeavors.
yup, I am properly licensed up with that new fangled $10 salt water license...... this was our 4AM to 7AM survey recon. Actually I have to do a post dredge survey of the harbor we launched from. That will be Friday morning at the low tide 🙂
I've decided there are two ways to approach this:
1. Make more money so you can spend more time fishing.
2. Make less money because you spend so much time fishing.
I'm starting to lean toward option 2!
Decisions .... decisions..... hmmmmm B-) ?????
I would rather work half the time for twice the pay.
I'm with John. work Smarter, make more and then I can be like spledeus and only work half days, the sun up to sun down half...
But really, charge more and you can do a much better job!
> I've decided there are two ways to approach this:
>
> 1. Make more money so you can spend more time fishing.
>
> 2. Make less money because you spend so much time fishing.
>
> I'm starting to lean toward option 2!
You outta try catching instead of fishing.
What???!!!! That’s it???!!! No name calling? No slandering? No ethical infractions?
Cripes you guy’s must be professionals or something!
Have a great week! B-)
This morning I drove past a site I had surveyed in 1999, and noticed a survey crew. I asked them who they worked for (not from Tucson), and if they had a copy of the previous survey (very difficult area). No, did not. I got the impression they didn't care either way because they didn't ask how to get a copy.
Last I saw they were taking a shot on a property corner, single rover shot, no bipod or brace, almost under a tall advertising sign.
I'll make a note and check back in a few months on that mandatory record of survey.
I agree.