This article was co-authored by Anthony "TC" Williams. Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.
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Land surveys are of utmost importance when purchasing new land or a new piece of property. And if you are building anything new near the property line, such as a fence or a shed, getting a survey can keep you out of expensive legal trouble. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get a land survey done and find a good price for the service.
Steps
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1Determine if you need to have a survey done. There are 6 situations in which a land survey should be performed.[1]
- Get a survey done if you are buying a new piece of property. The reason is simple: you need to make sure that what you think you're buying is actually what you're buying. Most lenders will require a survey anyway.
- Get a survey done if you are constructing anything new on your property. Most zoning ordinances and neighborhood codes will specify a required setback from your property line. If you don't know precisely where your property line is, you won't be able to adhere to this regulation.
- Get a survey done if your property has any access easements. All property owners are entitled to access their property, and this often requires getting easements to allow the use of a neighboring land parcel for access. Easements should specify very clearly the centerline and width of any access corridors.
- Get a survey done if you are selling your property. Having a current survey on file will greatly improve the marketability of your home. Buyers will be more interested in your property if you give them the confidence that a proper survey has been performed.
- Get a survey done if you need to verify the acreage of your property for tax assessments. Your local jurisdiction may require you to have a current survey on file to correctly assess property taxes.
- Get a survey done if your neighbor starts building anything new. If you suspect your neighbor is encroaching on your property or violating setback regulations, you need a survey on your own property to initiate any legal action.
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2Contact several local surveying firms to get cost estimates. Have your deed ready, because surveyors will generally not give an estimate unless they have a copy of your deed. Explain the reason why you need a survey and any other concerns you might have.[2]Advertisement
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3Compare the estimates from the surveyors you contacted. Good surveying firms will do their research before providing a bid. Make sure that they've checked for any previous surveys done on your property by government offices or private surveyors. Surveys will cost less if some of the boundaries can be quickly verified through previous surveys.[3]
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4Select a surveyor. When you're happy with a company's bid, sign the contract included with the bid and return it to the company. You will generally have to pay a retainer fee at this point. Make sure that you clearly understand how long it will take the surveyor to complete the survey before contracting with them.[4]
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5Allow the surveyor to perform the survey. When the job is done, you should receive a signed certificate from them certifying that the survey has been recorded.[5]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the name of the block put in the ground if you survey land?
Anthony "TC" WilliamsAnthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.
Experienced LandscaperWhen surveying land, the name of the block in the ground is called the locate or property pin.
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QuestionWhat can you do if you were told your last survey was not correct?Anthony "TC" WilliamsAnthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.
Experienced LandscaperIf your last survey was not correct, you will most likely have to hire a new and different surveyor.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionIs there anything in particular I should ask a surveyor to do when he comes to survey my property?
Community AnswerYes, make sure that the surveyor will file the appropriate maps with your local agency in charge of land records. You don't want to spend money for a surveyor only to end up with an unrecorded survey.
Things You'll Need
- Deed
References
- ↑ https://www.styleathome.com/how-to/real-estate/article/guide-to-property-surveys
- ↑ https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/architects-and-engineers/hire-a-land-surveyor/
- ↑ https://www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-prices/land-survey-cost-estimator
- ↑ https://www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-prices/land-survey-cost-estimator
- ↑ https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/architects-and-engineers/hire-a-land-surveyor/
About This Article
Before you schedule a land survey, call several local surveying firms and ask for price estimates. Make sure you have your property deed on hand when you call so you can provide information about the size of your property. Once you compare prices, ask for a bid from the firm of your choice. They'll then mail you a bid and a contract to sign and return. Make sure you understand the terms and how long the project will take before returning the form. For help choosing between surveying firms, read more from our reviewer.
