When Do You Need a Land Survey and Who Can Help?

Land surveys are a vital tool for designated property lines and the proper location of features and amenities on the estate. The surveys make it clear where one piece of property ends and another begins.

Disputes revolving around land may not be as intense as they were hundreds of years ago, but it is still important that everyone knows where to assign ownership to a property and its features. This is particularly important when you are planning to expand, make any changes to your estate. Also, it can help prevent any future misunderstandings with neighbors about limits.

Learning About Land Surveys?

Land surveys are drawings that show the precise boundaries of a property. A survey also lays out the location and dimension of site improvements or buildings. There are several land surveying methods available based on the shape and size of the property as well as its legal designation.

Do You Need a Land Survey?

Using a legal description of the land as a reference may not be sufficient to determine the boundary lines of the property. It may be necessary to hire a land surveyor to assist you in meeting specific requirements for improving or purchasing real estate, or you can use your references to locate your property boundaries.

There are a few reasons for a land survey, including:

• getting title insurance
• settling disputes related to boundary lines
• locating property lines
• adhering to mortgage requirements
• locating easements
• being fully aware of all features on the land you purchased
• locating utilities
• building a house or additional building on the property
• updating an old property survey

Outdated real estate descriptions can be legally binding. These also reference monuments or landmarks that are not on the property anymore. This means that a land surveyor will need to take new measurements to update the survey to include accurate boundary lines.

Types of Land Surveys

The type of land survey you need depends on the reason you’ve requested a survey. Here are a few that you may want to consider:

ALTA Survey

This survey is conducted by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and occurs when you buy a home or investment property. Normally, a title company will require you to have an ALTA survey before receiving the title insurance.

Boundary Survey

This type of survey is used to find the location of property corners and boundaries. You may need a boundary survey to locate easements for your records or to solve legal disagreements.

Location Survey

This type of survey is a lot like a boundary survey but includes improvements that were made to the property. Location surveys should show where the improvements are and how far these are from property lines.

Subdivision Survey

Subdivision surveys are used for dividing parcels of land into several lots to create a subdivision. This survey creates subdivision plans and has to be filed with the recorder’s office.

Site-Planning Survey

These surveys are designed for planning site improvements. The building or other renovations are drawn to sale in a boundary survey, and the site-planning survey is used when property owners apply for building permits.

Construction Surveys

If you are planning on making significant improvements to your property, you need a construction survey. The surveyor will assess the location where you plan to make changes to ensure that construction workers know where to build.

Topographic Surveys

Topographic surveys detail the location of man-made and natural features on your property, such as fences, ponds, buildings, trees, and utilities. Architects and engineers need this survey to plan the improvements properly.

Final Thoughts

You can hire a land surveyor in the Hamptons to assess your property so you can accurately price your real estate. Whether you are selling or appraising your home before making renovations, a land surveyor can let you know what the property is worth now and in the future

Author: With a law degree under his belt and years of experience, Mark Scott set off to make the law more accessible to all. He decided to help people lost in the maze of legal terminology to find their way. Mark writes clear and concise pieces and gives simple advice that is easy to follow. Because of positive feedback from readers, he decided to dedicate more of his time to this goal and became a legal columnist. In his writings, Mark covers a wide array of topics, like how to seek legal counsel, or how to deal with different procedures. Furthermore, he directs his readers toward other trustworthy resources for more in-depth information.