Connie -- Congratulations on completing BU! Short answer: Sounds to me like you did the right thing. Longer answers: The vaguer the research request, the more non-billable time one has to spend, not just getting the facts the client may know, but in making clear to them that (1) it's several months late to be thinking about a substantial genealogy Christmas gift, and that (2) you cannot as a professional guarantee to find the requisite ancestors in the time allotted. Depending on the record situation, you may be able to make an educated guess -- I'm sure Georgia in 1870 is more workable than in 1820! -- but there are no guarantees. Some families are clear sailing and in others you may work for months just to add one parent. Even given a clear research question, it does take time to survey the ground and know what records are available. That's our learning time and I do not think of it as billable. So this experience could also be an argument for specializing in an area where you already know what's available (within reason). From my point of view -- I love online research but sooner or later I need to go to the courthouse -- it also means specializing in locations (and/or repositories) that I can physically get to. Your mileage may vary! Harold On Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 9:58 AM, Harold Henderson <librarytraveler@gmail.com>wrote: > Connie -- > > Congratulations on completing BU! > > Short answer: Sounds to me like you did the right thing. > > Longer answers: The vaguer the research request, the more non-billable > time one has to spend, not just getting the facts the client may know, but > in making clear to them that (1) it's several months late to be thinking > about a substantial genealogy Christmas gift, and that (2) you cannot as a > professional guarantee to find the requisite ancestors in the time > allotted. Depending on the record situation, you may be able to make an > educated guess -- I'm sure Georgia in 1870 is more workable than in 1820! > -- but there are no guarantees. Some families are clear sailing and in > others you may work for months just to add one parent. > > Even given a clear research question, it does take time to survey the > ground and know what records are available. That's our learning time and I > do not think of it as billable. So this experience could also be an > argument for specializing in an area where you already know what's > available (within reason). From my point of view -- I love online research > but sooner or later I need to go to the courthouse -- it also means > specializing in locations (and/or repositories) that I can physically get > to. Your mileage may vary! > > Harold > > > > On Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 9:11 AM, <Rvsailor@aol.com> wrote: > >> Good Morning, All! >> >> I am in the process of working toward certification. I have been >> researching for family and friends for nearly 30 years, always pro bono. >> I >> recently completed the Boston University research course in preparation >> to expand >> my research services. >> >> Monday, I was contacted via Internet about a potential research project. >> In the initial contact I was asked about my rates and whether I could >> accomplish the research (a very vague goal of a Christmas gift to her >> father of >> his potential heritage from Ireland or Scotland) before Christmas. I >> responded with some general information on rates and indicated the >> information I >> would need to determine an estimate of costs and my ability to meet the >> Christmas deadline. The potential client provided "what she knows" >> Tuesday >> morning which was basic information to her father's grandparents all >> born in >> Northern Georgia and I am located Florida. I spent some time on the >> Internet to identify the scope of what was readily available and identify >> whether the Ireland or Scotland connection appeared on census or other >> on-line >> records. My next step was to send another email explaining that we would >> need to discuss her specific goals so I could provide her a proposed >> quote and >> contract. I explained my policy of obtaining a 4 hour research retainer >> with the contract. Her next email thanked me for my time and explained >> that >> her mother had already found another genealogist for the research. I was >> disappointed but feel the process was an additional learning experience. >> >> My question. How much time should I have spent on this initial research >> and as professional genealogists, how are these hours recouped >> financially? >> As the saying goes, "Time is money." One thing I noted in the BU course >> was that I took more time than the instructors indicated when factoring >> in >> time spent for writing reports and pre contract research. I realize the >> more times specific actions are accomplished, the quicker results will be >> obtained. >> >> Thanks! Connie Bradshaw >> The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive >> environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to >> professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > -- > Harold Henderson midwestroots.net > Research, Writing, and Brickwall Dismantling from Northwest Indiana > Regularly Researching at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center > > Certified Genealogist (SM) No. 1029 > Certified Genealogist and CG are proprietary service marks > of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® used by the > Board to identify its program of genealogical competencyevaluation > and used under license by the Board’s associates. > > > > -- Harold Henderson midwestroots.net Research, Writing, and Brickwall Dismantling from Northwest Indiana Regularly Researching at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center Certified Genealogist (SM) No. 1029 Certified Genealogist and CG are proprietary service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® used by the Board to identify its program of genealogical competencyevaluation and used under license by the Board’s associates.