Surveyor Recommendations and Payment Etiquette

Hi there

I'm trying to organise a detail / contour survey for an extension / alteration we are doing on our house.
Two questions.
What is a reasonable price for this service.
I have had friends say that they paid ~$800.
Most of the quotes I've had however are around the $1500 - $2000 mark.

A cheaper one that I have obtained is from this mob for about $1200: renovateplans.com
They have asked me to pay upfront however by direct deposit or cheque.
My understanding was that the etiquette is usually for the surveyor to come do the work and then I pay up before they provide me with the pdf / dwg file with the actual drawings.
I'm probably just being ultra paranoid but I'm uncomfortable with direct deposit having not met these guys at all.

Advice appreciated!

Comments

  • I'm uncomfortable with direct deposit

    Far better than cash.
    You have proof of payment.

    • Yes but they could choose not to do the work and not to refund the money. Then you need to fork out $1500 for someone else to do the work. Unlikely but it is possible.

      • My exact concern.
        I've never had a tradesperson ask for payment prior to even coming to the property.

        • Oh, never paid before hand.

      • True but makes it much easier at small claims tribunal.

  • What city are you in?

    • House is in Maroubra, NSW

      • Cool, ill PM the people that did our place in Randwick, cheaper for cash.

        • Thanks buddy. Much appreciated.

  • All good, message sent, let us know how you get along. We paid those people upfront after they did survey but before results emailed, but "apparently" the better way to do it is half upfront half on completion, not that we had particular issues with them.

  • Sounds fishy, i would never use any service that asked for payment upfront for any reason. Its always good to be paranoid about things like this, be diligent and wary and you are less likely to get stung. Look for a different Surveyor.

  • They are not tradespeople.
    The reason they ask for money upfront is people change their mind and don't want to go ahead with it, or get the plans then don't pay or don't like your professional opinion and don't pay etc. try to see it from there perspective, they have overheads and have probably been caught out by non payment before.

    • I understand where you are coming from. However the arrangement I detailed above is a pretty fair compromise IMHO. At least come out do the survey then I'm happy to pay before delivery of the documents. It's not like I can do anything without the pdf and dwg files anyway. I would also have no problem with upfront deposit but full payment upfront unmet / unseen is a bit tenuous…??

  • Isn't the usual practice to pay a deposit before they do the site inspection, and then the balance before you get the plans?

    Good on you for questioning. I've heard plenty of horror stories.

    Usually with this kind of work, it's better to rely on word of mouth of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and the like. Even better if you can inspect the quality of their work/survey plans done for those family, friends, etc.

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