How do I check a land surveying company’s field equipment condition before buying?
Ask for a full equipment list with age, service and calibration records, then see the instruments working in the field. Have an independent technician inspect the key pieces. Accuracy matters more than appearance, so ask how the firm proves its measurements are reliable and when each item will need replacing.
Start with an inventory that names each instrument, its age, its serial number and who uses it. Ask for maintenance and calibration records. Gaps are a warning, because a surveyor’s product is trust in the measurement. Ask how often gear is checked, who does it and what happens when a unit fails a check.
Ask to watch the crews use the equipment on a real job. Notice how it is stored in the vehicles, how carefully it is handled and whether the crew trusts it. Then bring in an independent technician to test the main instruments. A seller who welcomes this is helping you; one who resists makes the question worth asking again.
Plan for the future. Which items are near the end of their useful life, and what would replacement involve? Your accountant can help you think through the financing, and an equipment appraiser can tell you what each piece is worth to a user. Check also that the firm owns the gear outright, or whether some is leased or pledged to a lender. Keep copies of every report you receive, and ask for any manufacturer service notices the seller has on file.
Key takeaways
- Request calibration and maintenance records for every key instrument.
- Watch the gear used on a live job and have a technician test it.
- Confirm what is owned, leased or pledged as security.
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Due diligence
Financing
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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