Easy Money: "you can use Google to locate my boundaries"

Lee Hixson · Post by **Lee Hixson** » Tue May 12, 2009 6:18 pm

spotted this on Sacramento Craigslist just now......how cool is this? a boundary location where using Google is "good enough".....AND.......you can telecommute taboot:

"Need a certified surveyor to locate my property and map it to the correct land grant on a plat map from Sacramento 1866. Deliverables: a certified letter stating my property lies within the boundaries of a specific land grant and located at coordinates Lat/Long and Township/Range section quarter. You can use Google Maps tools to get this done fast. I want the letter certified by a professional surveyor. Must be notarized as well. Location: Mid-town Sacramento. Compensation: $100 per letter.
Telecommuting is ok. "

Ric7308 · Post by **Ric7308** » Tue May 12, 2009 7:07 pm

Let's see if someone responds to my inquiry.

dmi · Post by **dmi** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:19 pm

DARN, I thought that "805" was a strange area code for a job that ought to be "916" ....
in the immortal words of Homer

DOH!

Ric7308 · Post by **Ric7308** » Wed May 13, 2009 5:42 pm

Dane,

Not necessarily trying to be devious. More of..."Do you realize what you're saying here?" Often, just by contacting the poster and finding out more information, it becomes obvious the general ignorance of the licensing laws is behind it. Sometimes, there is a legitimate licensed surveyor and the language of the post was poorly written.

Other times...well...not so good.

Proactively educating individuals is usually the preferred approach.

dmi · Post by **dmi** » Wed May 13, 2009 9:12 pm

Ric,
Have you twisted my leg clean off? I have never visited the Sacto Craigslist.... I was just trying to be funny.... Is this gong to be a Cal Surveyor article....?

goodgps · Post by **goodgps** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:47 pm

ha ha . . . not really that funny

This past week I actually had two potential clients tell me to "google" their property and tell me whether or not they or their neighbor encroached.

Last week was better. . . only ONE call asking the same.

Sadly enough, REAL people Really think they can rely on google for a whole lotta stuff.

"Ouch" ! I need some medical advice . . . . . its off to "Dr. Google" for me

Lee Hixson · Post by **Lee Hixson** » Sat May 16, 2009 12:54 pm

"Often, just by contacting the poster and finding out more information....."

FYI, I tried doing this.....on the day that I posted this tread, but no one has responded....

Ric7308 · Post by **Ric7308** » Sat May 16, 2009 12:57 pm

I haven't received a reply either.

goodgps · Post by **goodgps** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:52 pm

Hey,

Do you think a "google only" survey could be filed as a "ROS"

Just add the photo onto the plat, superimpose the googled distances on the photo, add certificates and POOF !!! never leave the office.

"this survey is based upon a googled observation of the property shown hereon"

Just joking

signed;
Ken U. Handlet

Lee Hixson · Post by **Lee Hixson** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:35 am

Actually, I wouldn't put it past someone. Get a hold of the County's GIS basemap showing the lot lines, merge it with GoogleEarth, bingo! Just zoom in and there's your P/Ls.

land butcher · Post by **land butcher** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:11 pm

A few years ago I heard about Surveyors east of the Mississippi having their field measured ROS's rejected by their County Recorders because the bearings and distances were not the same as on the recorders GIS.

I have been told by homeowners that "with GPS and google earth cant you just walk right to the corner and set a corner marker. " And they dont understand why not.

PLS7393 · Post by **PLS7393** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:42 pm

It is amazing what homeowners think they know and want.

Last week a homeowner wanted my services as a third party to check some measurments, only 50 feet apart too. Asked if I use a tape measure, or special instrument to check points. He said it will only take me 10 minutes, but also requested an official report with my license.

Oddly enough I asked three times for the property address, but he kept replying that he already had official map from city of Fremont. Never got an address to even begin assisting, and no I'm not that cheap, heheheee!

He was directed to the CLSA website and to research "How to consult a land surveyor". I bet he found someone to help him for 10 minutes, but it wasn't me!

PLS7393 · Post by **PLS7393** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:29 am

Greg Sebourn wrote:It is incumbent upon each of us to educate the public as to what we do and the significance of our professional work. If a surveyor doesnâ€™t want to spend 20 minutes to an hour selling the value of their professional services, what else will they do with the time? Are we getting busy again? Even in the busy times, we SHOULD be educating the public.

Very well said Greg, and that is exactly what I do before any proposal is prepared. The public has no idea of our professional obligations, at least some of us (CLSA members to start) actually understand our professional obligation to protect the public.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program, it's going to be hot today!!!

land butcher · Post by **land butcher** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:00 pm

You can lead some horses to water, but that doesnt mean they will drink.

Many just call another surveyor.

I had one trying to claim some school property by adverse possession.
He said his lawyer told him all he needed was a surveyor to file a RS showing it all as one parcel.
After 20 min of wasting my breath I told him to hire a smarter lawyer and hung up.

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Easy Money: "you can use Google to locate my boundaries"

Easy Money: "you can use Google to locate my boundaries"

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