What you should Know... |
What Is A Survey?
A survey locates upon the ground that land which your deed describes.
The following are some different types of surveys:
When Do You Need A Survey?
A survey should be performed when any of the following situations arise:
• The title to land is to be transferred and the land is not clearly defined by plat, description, or location on the surface of the earth
• Land is to be divided by land contract, will, deed, court order, or desire of the owner
• Land is to be improved by the construction of buildings, roads, fences, lakes, etc.
• There is a boundary dispute between you and your neighbor or you believe someone is encroaching on your land
What Does A Survey Cost?
The cost of a survey depends on several things including the type of survey needed, the time required to perform the survey, and the preparation of necessary plats and descriptions. Some variables which affect the cost of a land survey are:
A survey locates upon the ground that land which your deed describes.
The following are some different types of surveys:
- Boundary Survey: A survey for the express purpose of locating, describing, monumenting, and mapping the exact boundaries and corners of a given parcel of land. This involves record and field research, field measurements, and computations with the findings shown on a survey plat that is given to the land owner. A description may also be required for purposes of recording a new deed.
- Subdivision Survey: A survey for the division of any lot or tract of land into smaller lots, with monumentation and a subdivision plat conforming to the governing ordinances including boundary descriptions for new deeds as required.
- Topographic Survey: A survey locating natural and man-made features such as elevations, contours of land, streams, buildings, fences, etc.. A combination of boundary and topographic surveying is used for design and construction of roads, subdivisions, etc.
When Do You Need A Survey?
A survey should be performed when any of the following situations arise:
• The title to land is to be transferred and the land is not clearly defined by plat, description, or location on the surface of the earth
• Land is to be divided by land contract, will, deed, court order, or desire of the owner
• Land is to be improved by the construction of buildings, roads, fences, lakes, etc.
• There is a boundary dispute between you and your neighbor or you believe someone is encroaching on your land
What Does A Survey Cost?
The cost of a survey depends on several things including the type of survey needed, the time required to perform the survey, and the preparation of necessary plats and descriptions. Some variables which affect the cost of a land survey are:
- Terrain and Accessibility: A level, open field is much easier to survey than a wooded, hilly tract of land
- Time of Year: Dense vegetation in summer often restricts the line of sight. Snow in winter may conceal field evidence
- Size and Shape: An irregularly shaped tract of land has more corners and a longer perimeter than a square containing the same area
- Field Evidence: The presence of iron monuments, corner stones, etc. in the survey area aid the surveyor; their absence makes the survey more difficult.
- Deeds: At times, the legal description of the property to be surveyed may be vague, incomplete, contradictory, and/or mathematically inaccurate. It may also be necessary to resolve an unrecorded deed, agreement, or easement.