We strive for a close working relationship with an engineering firm during PD&E, design, Right-of-Way and acquisition management. We can also provide valuable assistance on your project proposals by furnishing analysis and recommendations in preparation for your proposal presentation. We ensure that your recomendations demonstrate the best design and Right-of-Way acquisition cost-savings while still satisfying all of the requirements for that government agency's project.
Whether the Barfield Group is serving as your own Right-of-Way expert or as a consultant for the condemning agencies team, it is assured that your concerns will be fully addressed to achieve the most equitable and satisfactory resolution. The Barfield Group has a proven history of assisting property owners obtain their constitutional guarantee of full compensation for land, improvements, damages and professional fees, while striving to minimize avoidable impacts to the owner's property and business operations.
Ed Barfield is one of Central Florida’s leading Right-of-Way experts, with extensive specialized education in appraisal review, property acquisition, project management, relocations, and litigation support. Following a 17-year career with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), he started his own consulting firm in 2008, which is known as the Barfield Group. Ed has worked on hundreds of public improvement projects for engineering firms and public agencies, providing a full range of project-critical services. He has acheived unparralleled success of nearly 100% in obtaining property acquisitions by voluntary donation or negotiated settlement without needing to utilize eminent domain to acquire those properties and property interests neccessary for construction of the agency's project.
The Barfield Group originated in 2008 as Edwin R. Barfield, LLC, following Ed’s distinguished 32-year career in the Right-of-Way/Eminent Domain field, including 17 years as a Senior Appraiser and a Special Projects Coordinator for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Office of Right of Way. At the FDOT, he worked on everything from A (appraisals) to Z (zoning ordinance adoption). Ed's experience as a Senior Appraiser and a Special Projects Coordinator at the FDOT gives him intimate, first-hand knowledge of the FDOT system and that of other public agencies. This knowledge makes him an invaluable expert on projects that involve property acquisition and input on the project design from a right-of-way cost savings perspective.
Ed founded this company to offer engineering firms, public agencies, property owners and their representatives the benefit of his unsurpassed expertise in the areas of project design support, cost estimating, property rights acquisition, and eminent domain appraisal, all of which are key components of a successful public improvement project. Ed strives to ensure that the property owner is vested in the project as a stakeholder, and all parties will be satisfied with the final result. Since it opened, the Barfield Group has assisted clients throughout Florida on all types of projects and project phases, including:
Clients select Ed Barfield for his comprehensive experience and knowledge of the law, his intense focus on amicably resolving Right-of-Way and Eminent Domain issues, and his extraordinary interpersonal skills, bringing all parties together for a non-adversarial acquisition process that saves all involved parties both time and money.
Long story, short: Ed Barfield makes life much, much easier for design engineers and other project stakeholders—and that means quite a lot in the complex field of Right-of-Way/Eminent Domain.
Right-of-Way acquisition and design are among the most crucial steps in a public improvement project. Expertly managed, Right-of-Way processes can be smooth and equitable for property owners, design engineers, and public agencies, who are all project stakeholders. Just ask the benefactors of Right-of-Way/Eminent Domain specialist, Ed Barfield. They'll tell you. With his vast experience, encyclopedic knowledge, impeccable integrity and commitment to fairness, Ed Barfield makes design and acquisition productive and non-adversarial, achieving objectives while minimizing contention and costs. The hallmarks of Ed’s comprehensive approach to Right-of-Way/Eminent Domain include:
Don't just take our word for it. Read the project studies and testimonials of Ed's clients, who have experienced and benefited from his masterful approach to Right-of-Way design and acquisition. Then contact us to discuss your project. We're ready to help.
How may we help you?
Right-of-Way Engineering Design Support
Right-of-Way issues are like landmines—by the time they’re identified, the damage has often been done. Projects are stalled or derailed, funds are expended on unproductive efforts, and expectations of maintaining the project schedule are unable to be realized. Ed Barfield can spot and diffuse those Right-of-Way landmines, clearing the way for a project to be completed on schedule and within budget. Ed's decades of specialized experience in all facets of the study, design, and acquisition phases of a public improvement project provides the advantage of resolving potential issues before they become real problems. As a Right-of-Way consultant and coordinator, he works with engineers, surveyors and all stakeholders, including property and business owners, to resolve issues early in the study and design phases. With his involvement, cooperation prevails, settlements are amicably negotiated and property is acquired without the need for litigation. Over the years, Ed Barfield has saved countless public agencies time and money in Right-of-Way matters. He can do the same for your public project.
With his all-encompassing background, Ed Barfield has the experience, skill and capabilities to work effectively with all parties, bringing project designers and stakeholders together to:
The bottom line: With his unsurpassed experience and knowledge, Ed Barfield can resolve the issues that can impede a Right-of-Way project and create an environment that provides for a smooth and conflict-free property acquisition phase.
We Believe in Partnerships
We strive for a close working relationship with an engineering firm during PD&E, design, Right-of-Way and acquisition management. We can also provide valuable assistance on your project proposals by furnishing analysis and recommendations in preparation for your proposal presentation. We ensure that your proposal demonstrates the skill and knowledge that is required to identify innovative design and Right-of-Way acquisition cost-savings while also satisfying all the requirements of the government agency.
Acquisition Services
A skillfully handled property acquisition can save significant time and unnecessary expenditure of public funds. Ed Barfield, one of Florida's most respected appraisal and property acquisition specialist, has an impressive history of soliciting and obtaining those property rights necessary for construction of the project. With his combination of knowledge, experience and strong interpersonal skills, Ed manages the acquisition process in a way that satisfies all parties. He treats property owners with respect, meeting with them personally to establish their value as stakeholders early on. He works closely with design engineers and government representatives, resolving issues and identifying cost-saving opportunities for the project. When he is involved, situations which are ripe for a costly and adversarial outcome are instead resolved amicably, resulting in a quality project completed in the most time-efficient, cost-effective manner possible.
Access Management
A public improvement project can have a major adverse impact on access to a home or business. Ed Barfield can assist in protecting your property and its value by recognition of problems before they happen, and identifying design solutions that mitigate or eliminate them completely. Ed’s experience in access management assures that your property will not suffer from unnecessary diminished access and property value. Ed's access management experience includes:
You work hard to maintain your property and its value, and Ed Barfield will work hard for you to make sure that your property has viable access before, during, and/or after construction.
Cost Estimate
Cost estimating isn’t all black and white—there's an art and science to the process, one that demands great experience, skill and a practiced eye to provide a thorough evaluation of the potential impacts and damages that can accrue as a result of a project study or design. These are the qualities that make Ed Barfield a highly respected and trusted right-of-way cost estimator. With more than two decades of specialized eminent domain appraisal experience, as both an appraiser and a review appraiser, Ed's right-of-way cost estimates are reliable and comprehensive, ensuring that all relevant cost factors are considered. But that’s not all. Ed's extensive experience in eminent domain and project engineering design support allows him to also pinpoint opportunities for minimizing or avoiding potential costly impacts to properties and businesses. Ed Barfield's skill and expertise in providing assistance in multiple phases of a public improvement project provides the design engineers the opportunity to deliver every possible cost savings to the public agency.
We Know Your Constitutional Rights
Being involved in a Right-of-Way/Eminent Domain negotiation can be stressful for a property owner. Unfamiliarity with the process and its complex details can leave the owner feeling vulnerable, wondering where to turn for expert advice and representation. That's where the Barfield Group can help. Ed Barfield is one of Central Florida’s most experienced and trusted Right of Way/Eminent Domain specialists, which has facilitated his ability to deliver "friendly" acquisitions for numerous public improvement projects.
Whether the Barfield Group is serving as your own Right of Way expert or as a consultant for the public agency, it is assured that your concerns will be fully addressed to achieve the most equitable and satisfactory resolution. The Barfield Group has a proven history of assisting property owners obtain their constitutional guarantee of full compensation for land, improvements, damages and professional fees, while striving to minimize avoidable impacts to the property and business. The Barfield Group approach to a project includes:
Legal Process of Acquisition
You will receive a notice explaining your constitutionally guaranteed rights and describing the property needed for agency project; You will get an offer of not less than the agencies estimate of your property's value; the agency will negotiate with you during this "Initial Offer" phase;
If you and the Agency cannot agree on price, they may file an eminent domain action to acquire title to the property or property interest needed for the project; the agency will continue to negotiate with you throughout the litigation, if you agree on price the litigation will cease, otherwise a jury will decide the amount of compensation you will receive.
The condemning authority will pay your reasonable expenses for an attorney and other experts to represent you throughout the negotiation and eminent domain process. Barfield Group Approach to acquisition AND design.
The Barfield Group truly wants to receive your input during the project design process prior to your receipt of the government agency's initial offer.
The Design Engineer and Public Agency have the flexibility to incorporate individual needs into a project during design, but once permitting and construction begins, you may find that your options for obtaining approval for revisions to be made to the design are limited. For example, you may wish to have a new curb cut and driveway for alternative access to your property, or you may desire to try to save a tree planted by your ancestor. There may be many different such situations that are unique to your property, and the Barfield Group is here to listen to those concerns and work hard to ensure they are addressed.
When you work with the Barfield Group, you are more likely to close on the settlement value, and obtain the terms and conditions you seek in less time. These are positives results for both you and your representative.
Cost Estimating and Acquisition Agent
With decades of specialized experience, Ed Barfield is one of Central Florida’s leading Right-of-Way experts.
Following a 17-year career with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), he started his own consulting firm, now known as the Barfield Group. Ed has worked on hundreds of public improvement projects for engineering firms and public agencies, providing a full range of project-critical services, including:
Often the need for LAP Funding, by a local agency, is uncertain at the initiation of a project. So it is essential that LAP requirements are complied with for ALL PARCEL ACQUISITIONS in order to ensure LAP funds can be qualified for in subsequent project phases.
Including the Barfield Group as part of the PD&E, Design, Cost Estimate, and Right of Way Teams, ensures project success
Comprehensive Right of Way Cost Estimates
A thorough analysis of property acquisition costs is key to identification of the preferred alternative on a public improvement project. With his vast experience, Ed Barfield provides a Right of Way cost estimate that reflects the true potential acquisition costs. Thereby providing Agencies and Engineers with a quality estimate required to make a well informed decision.
Excellent Relationships with Property Owners
Establishing good working relationships with property and business ownersis essential to successful acquisitions; and one of the key elements to Ed’s project successes. Ed Barfield has both the experience and interpersonal skills to create positive, productive relationships with property owners. Ed works with property owners in a manner that vests them as stakeholders, by gaining their cooperation and support through honesty, integrity and genuine concern for their satisfaction. The result is a non-adversarial acquisition process that saves all parties time, money—and avoids lots of needless aggravation.
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