When the warning bells go off…………
Me: Good morning. How may I help you?
Him: This is Skeeziz Finklebeam. I was referred to you by Scatman Sisters. I bought a place and it was surveyed. I bought the pasture and another guy bought the cropland. When he worked the ground he must have knocked out all the stakes. (ding)
Me: When was this surveyed?
Him: In 2020. (ding)
Me: What did you see when it was surveyed?
Him: Flags and wooden lath. (ding)
Me: Surely the surveyor set iron bars next to each of those locations where you saw the laths and flags. They would have been driven into the ground where you might not have noticed them, but they definitely should have been there. Depending on how deep the farmer worked the ground they are probably all still there.
Him: I don’t know about anything iron being set. Maybe I should wander around with a metal detector.
Me: If you don’t mind me asking, who did the survey last year:
Him: I don’t know? (ding ding ding ding ding)
Me: The reason I ask is that I really need to see the survey plat to determine exactly what was done in order to see how to find the markers set and reset any that are damaged or missing.
Him: Well, that’ll probably take a few days. (ding ding ding ding ding)
- 16 Replies
Is that the same ding as Tio ( Hector Salamanca) from Breaking Bad was dinging about?? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????
Warning bells are important. I couldn’t hear them when I was younger. Anticipating the sound of money changing hands always drowned out that ever important “ding ding” I always seemed to miss. And like HC has so aptly pointed out, the ‘dings’ are hidden by the words.
One (among many) ding I’ve noticed is in the very first words uttered by the prospective. At times just a short pleasantry, this string of words may be the most important of the entire conversation. Some like “I need to order a survey” is a sure fire ding-ding. This person couldn’t care less about your schedule, let alone your feelings about taking on his work. When presented with words like those I always got the feeling I rated somewhere next to someone asking if they’d like fries or a drink with their order.
And then there’s the perennial “I really don’t need a survey, but…”. Big ding-ding. This person sees waiting and paying for survey as an annoyance. If you dropped the phone, ran out there in thirty minutes, and did the survey for free they would still be inconvenienced.
Then there’s the “steam-rollers”. Most real estate folks fall into this category. In less than three seconds this person will expound on all sorts of details of their professional (or personal) life and how a survey is integral to not only their personal happiness, but possibly that of the entire human race. At this point it helps to be familiar with riding horses. Getting on an unfamiliar horse sometimes causes them buck a little, stomp around and act like they’re fixing to bolt. A firm voice and pressure on the reins usually settles things. I’ve noticed “steam rollers” usually have a financial stake in whatever crisis in which they’re involved. I’m not saying to avoid working with this kind of client; just be prepared to ride herd on them the whole way. You will recognize their number on your cell phone by the time it’s all over.
My favorite is the “Ben Cartwright”. For all you younger folks Cartwright was the main character in an old TV program called Bonanza. Cartwright was a rigid and (at times) self-righteous man that owned everything as far as the eye could see. His greatest foes were trivialized adjoiners and change in general. I run into a lot of property owners like this that feel they should have a say in what goes on around them simply because their land is larger in area than anybody else’s. A phone conversation with a Cartwright usually begins with either the word “listen” (I actually hear “shut up” at that point) or maybe “I own…”. Both are probably an attempt to establish some sort of superiority in the following conversation. I’ve found these owners usually have a predetermined plan as to how your survey is going to be performed and how it will turn out. All you need to do is listen up and do exactly what you’re instructed. What could be simpler?
Like I said, listen carefully to the first few words of the conversation. That’s usually where the “ding-dings” are presented. 😉
@holy cow
I can translate:
When he worked the ground he must have knocked out all the stakes. (ding)
I pulled the stakes.
Me: When was this surveyed?
Him: In 2020. (ding)
By surveyed, I mean we paid a guy to come out and set some stakes, but he wanted a huge amount of money to do it right, and we already know that if we called him, we would not only want us to pay the bill we owe him, but also pay the huge amount up front this time.
Me: What did you see when it was surveyed?
Him: Flags and wooden lath. (ding)
I mean that is exactly what we paid the guy for..
Him: …Maybe I should wander around with a metal detector.
I won’t, there is nothing there…
Me: If you don’t mind me asking, who did the survey last year:
Him: I don’t know? (ding ding ding ding ding)
If I tell you, you will call him and find out I didn’t pay him.
Him: Well, that’ll probably take a few days. (ding ding ding ding ding)
I guess I need to call around and find another surveyor that doesn’t hear the warning bells.
Of course, I could be wrong…let us know how it turns out!
-All thoughts my own, except my typos and when I am wrong.It is amazing how my perspective on Ben Cartwright has changed as I have grown older. He doesn’t seem as much like the 100% good guy anymore.
-All thoughts my own, except my typos and when I am wrong.
I just copied and pasted your post to a word document. Probably one of the most beneficial pieces of surveying advice I’ve heard in a good while. Thank you sir.
I just copied and pasted your post to a word document. Probably one of the most beneficial pieces of surveying advice I’ve heard in a good while. Thank you sir.
Well, I’m glad you found a familiar ring in my words. However I’m not sure how comfortable I am with the thought of someone using my words as advice, but thanks for confidence. 😉
@dmyhill winner winner, chicken dinner for you!
I was referred to you by Scatman Sisters
Any relation to Scatman Crothers?
Knew someone would pick up on that. Ever heard of anyone else known as Scatman? Or Poopman for that matter? You made me look it up. Scatman Crothers real first name was Benjamin.
The actual reference person had the first name of Scott. To disguise the name I went with the first thing that sounded a little like Scott.
It has now been 10 days since receiving the call. Bet I never hear from him again. What a waste of time!
It’s funny, to me, how some people think they can use these little phrases; and think that we are “new” and will bow to their demands.
I suppose they will keep scrolling through their Google search until they find someone “new”…
I hope everyone has a great day; I know I will!
Today??s ring ring email:
Just a reference point for the owner. Would you be interested in giving a price to topo the site once we have the trees cleared?
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 28, 2021, at 8:36 AM, Brad Ott <[email protected]> wrote:
Relative to what?
For what purpose?
On Jan 28, 2021, at 8:27 AM, new client wrote:
Give me the elevation of the pin in the road
From: Brad Ott <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 8:24 AM
To: new client
Subject: Re: revised proposal is attached
Probably not. What do you mean?On Jan 28, 2021, at 7:54 AM, new client wrote:
Can you give a benchmark for grade while you are there?
From: Brad Ott <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 3:20 PM
To: new client
Subject: revised proposal is attached
I was able to change the estimated timeframe from 2 to 3 months to 4 to 6 weeks without increasing the fee. See attached.
Happy Monday!
Brad
From: Brad Ott <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 5:56 PM
To: new client
Subject: proposal is attached ~ finally
From: Brad Ott <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2021 9:17 AM
To: new client
Subject: Re: quote
Yes sir, you are moving up the list of proposals. Might have an answer yet this weekend.On Jan 6, 2021, at 8:31 AM, new client wrote:
Any word on what this will cost?
From: Brad Ott <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 8:51 AM
To: new client
Subject: Re: quote
For a fence?On Dec 18, 2020, at 7:46 AM, new client wrote:
Can you give me an estimate to locate the 4 corners and a few line stakes.
Thank you,
New Client
I think I am mildly insulted, but not for the first time.
Sorry. But your name here reminds me of my ex-wife. Now you can feel insulted. ???? ???? ???? ???? ????
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