What should I ask about a surveying firm’s survey markers, stakes and field supplies?

Markers, stakes, flagging, paint and similar supplies are small items, but running out stops a crew. Ask the seller how the firm decides what to keep on hand. Is there a minimum level, a person who reorders, and a way for crews to say they are short? Walk through the shop and a couple of vehicles to see what is really there.

Ask where the supplies come from. If one supplier handles everything, find out how reliable that supplier is and whether another could step in. A short guide on diversifying supply is a good place to start thinking about backup sources.

Next, ask how the cost of supplies is recorded. Are they charged to jobs, or absorbed as overhead? That affects how you read the financial statements. Ask about waste, lost stock and whether crews buy things on their own cards. Confirm in writing which stock, tools and accounts transfer to you at closing, and whether the seller will count the inventory with you before the sale. Ask how the firm handles a sudden rush of jobs, when supplies may run low faster than a reorder can arrive. Ask whether crews carry spare stock in the truck, and who checks it.

Key takeaways

• Walk the shop and trucks to see what stock really exists.
• Ask who reorders and what the backup supplier is.
• Confirm which stock and supplier accounts transfer at closing.