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Unable to find a surveyor for the past 9 months!
Unable to find a surveyor for the past 9 months!
The law of supply and demand hasn’t been repealed. Want faster service? Offer to pay a premium fee. There are probably more than a few “too busy” surveyors who will arrange to be less busy when offered the right enticement.
Added two new surveys to my too long list today. Told both it would be two to three months. They both said they could live with that. In fact, one of them said they had contacted another company who said they could be there in about one month but their price was almost double my estimate. That firm does a lot of commercial and highway work. They only do residential as “fill-in” work to keep their crews busy between bigger jobs.
@jim-frame
I am coming to the same conclusion. The problem is I don’t know what a reasonable “premium” would be on a residential ~0.5 acre plot. $500? $1,000? Could you give a ballpark range on a typical price + premium? Thanks!!!
I wish you were in my neck of the woods!
Looks like my level of membership doesn’t allow DMs. Feel free to DM me, though.
Unfortunately, our private messaging system is currently down.
Your friendly, virtual neighborhood WebmasterCould you give a ballpark range on a typical price + premium?
I’m in CA, not NC, so I have no way of knowing what rates are like there, let alone the complexity of the survey. In my area no one requests a survey unless there’s a problem, and when there’s a problem a typical residential survey runs between $4k and $8k.
As far as incentive for faster turnaround goes, not every surveyor will respond the same way. It would have to be a pretty unusual circumstance for me to take a job out of order, and additional money might not be the motivating factor. But in a given market there are bound to be some for whom a premium fee will turn the trick.
@gstritter glad to help. A lot of others gave great advice as well. If they say 3 months go ahead and reserve your spot now. Or you will still be looking 3 months from now. Its not bad when a surveyor sais he has a backlog. That tells me they are steady and planning ahead. There employees are being watched out for long term and they are probably have a good set of clients repeat so you will probably get a good quality survey. I know we all want it done tomorrow but I would go on a list vs the person who says tomorrow. Not that tomorrow is bad just reality says they might be flying by the seat of the pants. Good luck.
@jim-frame
Thanks so much, Jim. I really needed that ballpark figure! It may end up being cheaper in NC given how many (but not all) things are cheaper there compared to Cal.
Understood! Thanks again for the advice.
@murphy Since the DM module isn’t working on this site, feel free to email me. My email address is g_surveyor_connect-at-strittermed.org (I gave Surveyor Connect their own folder on my email server). Thanks!
@gstritter i just got off the tractor and saw you needed a rough price. I think most surveyors are reasonable, actually i think many do it way to cheap. Plug in the numbers but think of it this way roughly. At minimum 15 to 45 minutes with you the client and the professional who is liable for any mistakes. So plug in whatever hourly rate. Then a hour if lucky to get to courthouse to do all the research of not just your property deed plats wills historical data but adjoining property owners. A hour is getting lucky by the time someone drives to and from gas is not cheap. Then lets say the field work minimum 4 hours maybe 8 if issues arise. Then qa/qc time and resolve the boundary issue’s maybe shows more research is needed or another trip back to the field. Then the time to draft and meet all state standards etc. and delivery and review with you the client maybe even walk it with you. These are generally very conservative numbers and many more things in between. Many things go on that is not visible to the client always and when a client gets a quote they often think it’s outrageous. Most of the time once they understand all the time besides just the field party that is in and out in a few hours they think well that was not long. Kinda like a drs visit. A big bill but you spent more time in waiting room and with the nurse and few minutes with the dr The nurse gathered all the information the dr read or was briefed on it came in to see you and bam heres my bill. Lol. The waiting room or sitting after nurse sees you is all the other things going on other patients or reviewing etc. Some of these others can probably explain better than i. You most definitely came to the right place some very good folks here from all over. Now to dr my yellow jacket stings and hornets i got into today.
Wow! I had no idea how much work was involved! So 1.5 – 2 days of work, or maybe more for a simple residential plot. I’m glad you took the time to explain it to me.
@gstritter I imagine once you get your professional surveyor reserved he or she will explain. Maybe not in the way i did but probably better. Yes I would start with a 3 day expectation at minimum. But from the start date to final could be longer but hours devoted to your plot a 3 day is about right at a start.
OK. Not 1.5 days but 3 days at a minimum. Good to know. Here’s hoping you didn’t get too many hornet stings!!
@gstritter lol yellow jackets first as i was swatting them from tractor seat i some how hit the hornets nest in the tree line. I am sure it would have made a good three stooges skit. The man i was cutting for is 93 and he said i never in my life saw someone jumping around on a tractor like that. Let us know how things work out for you and such.
It varies by state, and individual surveyor; But cost is usually the biggest factor.
I mostly do residential boundary work; I like helping people. But I can’t work for free. Most people are clueless when it comes to boundary issues. That’s not a bad thing; that’s why you want to hire a professional.
As evident by this thread; it’s pretty complicated. In the end, you need to get with your neighbor to find an equitable solution; or the court will force one on you, based the evidence presented by the attorneys. That will be fairly expensive; is it going to be worth it?
It sounds like you’ve already had your property surveyed. If your neighbor disagrees; he will need to hire one as well. If he doesn’t, and it goes to court, he will most likely lose.
It sounds like the disagreement is over who owns the “road”. If it’s a public Right-of-Way, then everyone does; if it’s a dedicated easement, then it’s owned by the dominant estate using the easement, but the fee simple owner of the servient estate owns the land.
Like I said; it’s complicated.
Good luck, @gstritter , in getting this resolved!
I hope everyone has a great day; I know I will!@dougie, I still haven’t found anyone to do the survey yet!
@t-ford, the fact that folks in NC are asking folks in LA for survey help is not a good sign for my efforts to get one done for my Mom.
@dougie, I still haven’t found anyone to do the survey yet!
@t-ford, the fact that folks in NC are asking folks in LA for survey help is not a good sign for my efforts to get one done for my Mom.
Just so you’re clear on this typically only people licensed in your state can perform survey work in your state.
I still haven’t found anyone to do the survey yet!
I thought you said you had a survey done? What did they do for you?
If you’re just looking for someone to tell you who owns the street; hire an attorney. My guess is they’re coming out of the woodwork…
I hope everyone has a great day; I know I will!
I still haven’t found anyone to do the survey yet!
If you’re just looking for someone to tell you who owns the street; hire an attorney. My guess is they’re coming out of the woodwork…
We need to charge more than a lawyer than. If no one has time to do a property survey for 9 months in NC, then the NC surveyors simply aren’t charging enough.
BTW my DO IT NOW price in my area would be $7,500 (plus unknowns).
-All thoughts my own, except my typos and when I am wrong.
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