Reasons to Survey Your Land

· 2 min read
Reasons to Survey Your Land

Although a land survey may seem tedious and unnecessary, in fact there are numerous cases in which you ought to have your land surveyed, to save confusion or legal troubles later.

For those who have two surveys done, they'll often have slight differences, because land surveying is as much an art as a science. Measurements are always subject to error. In land surveying, these measurements tend to be taken from landmarks such as fence posts; in two separate surveys, the same landmarks will not be available, or may have shifted.

A land surveyor will research the documents available about your land, including titles and previous surveys. Then, they'll physically measure the property, and check these dimensions contrary to the previous records to get any discrepancies. Land surveyors may also use electronic equipment, GPS positioning, or other devices to determine the boundaries of your property.

You should always consider a new land survey in case you are buying a little bit of real estate. Despite the fact that many mortgage companies or title insurance firms usually do not require one, it is still best if you have a survey done. You should be aware of any boundary discrepancies that could affect the value of your property before purchasing it. Any disputes about the boundaries of the house ought to be settled before you agree to purchase it, or you can be in for a legal headache later.

You may also desire to consider having a land survey done if you're planning to sell your property. It really is especially important in areas where road access is questionable. Determining the status of roads onto your land can help your realtor determine how marketable the house is. Shoreline footage and acreage are two more selling points that can be measured by a land survey. Some buyers might put in an offer that's contingent on a survey; when you have the survey done ahead of time, you can save time and increase the chances of selling your property quickly.

Before creating a shed, fence, or other structure on the edges of your land, consider having a land surveyor mark the exact edges of one's property.  get more info , you could be assured you are not building on your own neighbor's land, and you can assure yourself that you are not fencing out any land that is actually yours. This is especially important when building a house or other large, permanent structure. There are many things to remember when situating such a building, including easements, setbacks, along with other requirements which will be marked on your new land survey. Don't let your contractor or builder determine where you can place this structure, because they will most likely not be any more aware of your boundaries than you are.

Conversely, if your neighbor is building this type of structure and you also believe it to be on your property, have a land survey completed. This can be a first step towards resolving the problem and making certain your land remains yours to use.



Using an outdated survey to determine either of the matters puts you at a disadvantage. Newer measuring techniques, including GPS, mean that newer surveys would be the most accurate. Some areas, especially rural land, have not been surveyed since the nineteenth century, and therefore in many cases neighbors could be unknowingly encroaching on each other's land.