Ring Ring...
Them: Can you do such and such construction staking?
Me: Yep. (Get plans, send estimate, scope and a Professional Services Agreement, including retainer amount needed to start work.)
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...wait until day before they need stakes...
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Them: Please sign the following contract and be out there tomorrow.
Me: Attached is the PSA I sent before, please sign and return with retainer. We ask for a 48 hour lead time for any staking requests. Please send specific requests to me as soon as you know what they are.
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Am I wrong to believe that the RFP documents should include the contract that I am going to be asked to sign?
This isn't the first time, and I assume it will not be the last. And why not give me the start date with the contract as well???
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Not sure if it would help seeing as how they don't even bother to read your terms.
And the first item on the weekly meeting agenda will be "Survey Delay".
Them: Please sign the following contract and be out there tomorrow.
Me: I'm sorry, I won't be able to help you. Please find someone willing to put up with this B...S...
Life is too short and I'm to busy to put up with problem clients.
Amen, Brother Radar.?ÿ Amen.
Them: Please sign the following contract and be out there tomorrow.
Me: Attached is the PSA I sent before, please sign and return with retainer. We ask for a 48 hour lead time for any staking requests. Please send specific requests to me as soon as you know what they are.
The proper response.?ÿ Don't let any construction contractor bully you into a compromising relationship. That being said the big boys value the services of a good construction surveyor and a decent retainer with monthly T&M bills promptly paid should be the norm.?ÿ After all, it's only a few percent of their monthly construction costs so they'd be crazy to stiff you and delay their operations.?ÿ They also know you can slap a mechanic's lien on the project and really cause problems.
That being said if I have a good relationship with a construction contractor I'll waive the 72 hour lead time if he/she has an emergency (changed plans) and show up at dawn to stake enough for earthwork to continue that day and restake the rest on the weekend for an overtime fee.?ÿ Conversely it's great when the contractor calls up and says he/she's got a problem with your stakes, could be I used week old plans or I actually screwed up, let's talk.?ÿ Or the call that the whole project is shut down for three weeks, gov'mnt or financial problems, so no need for crews on site 'till next month.?ÿ Lets me reschedule other work.
The main feeling I seek is we're a team with a common goal and my fee is trivial compared to the big picture.?ÿ Any contractor that thinks I'm a profit center by lowballing or minorly stiffing me will not be a repeat client and I'll stick to the contract concerning lead times, monthly payments, etc., and stop work immediately if he/she bends the rules.?ÿ Kinda wakes up even the worst contractors if your contract is solid.?ÿ Are they going to sue you for $5,000 while their $100,000/week mass grading operation grinds to a halt because of no stakes??ÿ Most pencil it out and pay you.
New client. Might be a huge company, but new to me.?ÿ
Existing clients with history and trust I jump when they call. They pay their bills and we are all happy.?ÿ
