Surveyor Recommendations and Payment Etiquette

• 

  fruit on 27/10/2016 - 15:37

  I'm uncomfortable with direct deposit

  Far better than cash.
  You have proof of payment.

  • 

    nivag01 on 27/10/2016 - 16:33

    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.

    • 

      bingsta on 27/10/2016 - 16:39

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

      • 

        fruit on 28/10/2016 - 13:20

        Oh, never paid before hand.

    • 

      fruit on 28/10/2016 - 13:20

      True but makes it much easier at small claims tribunal.

• 

  lime111 on 27/10/2016 - 16:59

  What city are you in?

  • 

    bingsta on 27/10/2016 - 17:00

    House is in Maroubra, NSW

    • 

      lime111 on 27/10/2016 - 17:00

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

      • 

        bingsta on 27/10/2016 - 17:01

        Thanks buddy. Much appreciated.

• 

  lime111 on 27/10/2016 - 17:40

  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.

• 

  garetz on 27/10/2016 - 17:49

  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.

• 

  Stewardo on 28/10/2016 - 02:16

  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.

  • 

    bingsta on 28/10/2016 - 10:22

    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…??

• 

  brotherfranciz on 28/10/2016 - 17:27

  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.