Rates for professional land surveying services?

[Rob_LS]

How can we justify to our clients higher rates and higher project cost estimates than others, and I don't mean just the dreaded low-ballers. Don't you think YOUR work is more valuable than the work of others? Don't you want to be compensated commensurately?

Improve the quality of our work.
Be sure our instruments are calibrated.
Use proper procedures to attain required results.
Perform & document appropriate checks.
File all required documents.
Attend chapter meetings, conferences, workshops, & seminars.
Learn something new.
Expand our capabilities or hire someone who can.
Provide services or a quality level that others are not providing.
Improve our customer service.
Improve our communication skills.
Improve our writing skills.
Be able to respond rapidly to our clients needs.
Bring added value to the project.
Provide tours of our surveys to clients. - Thanks Evan!

Can we improve in any of these, or other areas? Please suggest areas in which we can improve.

Good luck! I hope that we will all improve, and thus raise our fees/rates...

Disclaimer: No portion of this post, especially including the previous statement, was in any way intended to suggest anyone charge the same rate as anyone else, or to restrict trade in any manner.

[E_Page]

"File all required docents." ???

I've never thought about giving tours of my surveys, but if I did, maybe docents would be required. I can understand having to train them, or occassionally maybe having to fire them, but would I need to file them?

Sorry, Rob. Had to.

[T. S. Higgins]

"File all required docents." ???

I've never thought about giving tours of my surveys, but if I did, maybe docents would be required. I can understand having to train them, or occassionally maybe having to fire them, but would I need to file them?

Sorry, Rob. Had to.

Well-manicured docents are of utmost importance. You're doing a disservice to your clients by neglecting this aspect.

Rob's post makes some good points; if we plan to be more than the equivalent of a billboard attorney, then we need to provide the work product, use the procedures and attain the skills to justify the higher cost. Since most people aren't aware of the differences in services that we provide, it's equally important to educate the public about these facts.

[LS_8750]

Bedside manner. Technical competency will get you nowhere without it.

How do you select your barber?
How do you select your attorney?
How do you select your physical therapist?
Your tailor?
Your doctor?
Your architect?
Your engineer?

Each selection above is built on trust, that feeling of assurance that you as client know that your chosen professional has your back, is taking care of business for you.

How do you select your land surveyor?