Right of Way Agent

JB,
I work with right-of-way agents. My supervisor moved up as having been both a licensed surveyor (in another state) and a right-of-way agent. It is great to have him as a supervisor because he understands more about both fields. I have had supervisors whose backgrounds were as right-of-way agents only, and some of them are arrogant, believe they are superior of, and look down on surveyors. (We are their subordinates just as we are the subordinates of engineers in many engineers' minds)

I think understanding and working in other aspects of the land and land-ownership industry would be quite beneficial.

Agents must work well with people even more so (in my humble opinion) than realtors. They need to have tolerance and they need to go in and talk to people that resent the whole reason they are there. Realtors often deal only with people who want their services.

From what I have seen from your postings, you are already much more diplomatic than many surveyors.

Just some of my thoughts on the subject.

Tom

Our Real Property Manager position requires an LS which is unusual in Government Agencies.

It is very helpful to have an LS in there because we understand both Title and the realities of the physical world we work in.

The Real Property Manager has a Senior LS underneath managing the Surveyors plus another branch of Land Agents.

Land Agents sometimes do project management (acquisition projects require independent appraisal, negotiation, title work, etc.) or property management.

An LS is a good person to have in that job.

I agree with what Tom said above. Another thing that you'll need to deal with in that positions is political pressure. Good luck with that.

You couldn't run fast enough to give me a job as a ROW agent.

One of my friends just got hired by the Vermont AOT as an ROW agent. I assume it is dealing with ROW issues for widening state highways and road construction.

Depends on the workplace, where I am now (Alaska DOT) there is a whole staff for Right-of-Way issues, including surveying & mapping, permitting, acquisitions and encroachments. The one in charge of the Section just happens to be a RLS, although I'm not sure the position requires it, but it sure helps that he is. The Dutchess County, NY DPW had a Right-of-Way Agent who was the entire section himself and only dealt with the acquisition and disposition of county owned properties. He was not an LS and didn't have much surveying in his background, but sure knew his stuff. Since he recently retired they may have filled the position with an LS.

Don't know if this is helpful or not.

I have to agree with Rankin in that there will be a lot of political BS involved.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Perry

One of my friends just got hired by the Vermont AOT as an ROW agent. I assume it is dealing with ROW issues for widening state highways and road construction.

I applied for that job also....I guess I can quit waiting on that phone call....:-(

ROW agent

JB,

Transitioning to a ROW agent from an LS is a relatively easy thing. I recommend if you are serious about it to get joined up with the IRWA association, and work through the SR/WA certification program. Lots of good stuff there, and having the SR/WA credentials will really help you. I did that when I was working at the AK DOT&PF, and tested out of the SR/WA exam. It is fairly expensive to acquire and maintain however, and I have let mine lapse as I am not working in that field now.

Perry

> One of my friends just got hired by the Vermont AOT as an ROW agent. I assume it is dealing with ROW issues for widening state highways and road construction.
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> I applied for that job also....I guess I can quit waiting on that phone call....:-(

Yup, it's official. I saw the memo (he was hires as: Agent III in the plans and titles section of the ROW unit)