Are you purchasing a new property? Maybe you’re thinking about a new extension to your business or extending your parking lot? Have you thought about a land survey yet? It’s imperative that you hire a professional land survey firm if you’re thinking about starting any new construction project – or it could end up costing you dearly in the future.
What is a boundary survey?
To sum it up in one sentence; a boundary survey is the process of a licensed land surveyor determining the boundary lines on your property. It’s critical that you keep off your neighbor’s land, and making a minor mistake of encroaching on their property by only a few inches can cause huge issues with verifying the validity of your structure.
Land Survey Myths and Misconceptions
Before you get started with a new project or you think about signing that offer to purchase an existing building – read through these land survey myths and misconceptions.
It’s Your Property
You can Build Wherever You Want Without a Survey. Don’t assume that you have the right to build anywhere on your property. Failing to comply with county and state guidelines regarding the building code and property lines can result in disaster for your project. If it turns out that your new structure is on your neighbor’s land, you may have to tear it down and start from scratch – costing you thousands of dollars.
It Costs More to Survey Larger Properties
The cost of a land survey varies depending on the availability of previous surveys and legal descriptions. In some cases, it may cost less to survey a large lot than a smaller one with messy or no previous documentation. Speak to a professional about an estimate for your survey.
You Can Skip the Survey if You Have a Previous Survey
Many people make this mistake. They assume because they have the previous survey on hand, that they don’t have to undertake a new land survey on their next project. However, you have no way of verifying the report for yourself, without hiring a professional land surveyor. Previous permitting requirements and code compliance are constantly changing, and if you have an old survey – it may not have accurate information.
Land Surveys Are Expensive
The price of a survey is a fraction of the costs you’ll have to absorb if you need to tear down your new structure or remove pavement and landscaping due to encroaching on your property boundary. If you’re spending a significant amount of money on your building purchase or a renovation, then protect your investment and ensure you have a land survey completed before you break ground or sign a purchase agreement.
You can Hire Any Surveyor to get the Job Done
Unfortunately, not all survey firms are on an equal footing. Before you commit to any professional consulting services agreement, don’t make your final choice based on finding the cheapest survey firm you can find. Look for a company that has exceptional talent with decades of experience in the land survey industry. Choosing a new survey firm with inexperienced professionals may result in an inaccurate and unusable information.
Schemmer - Design with Purpose. Build with Confidence.
One of Schemmer’s original founders, Gene Gollehon started the firm as a civil engineering and surveying consultant in 1959. A black Volkswagen “Bug” served as the firm’s first survey vehicle. Decades later, Schemmer continues to provide surveying services to clients far and wide, but now we use 4x4 trucks to get us where we need to go. Schemmer remains grounded in their past but remain fully committed to the future by providing top-notch services to clients from coast-to-coast and border-to-border across the United States.
Schemmer is a full-service architecture, engineering and construction field services consultant, providing responsible solutions for complex design and construction-related challenges. Founded in 1959, we are grounded in our past but remain fully committed to the future.
We believe in a creative, collaborative culture. Our diverse and talented professionals work together to create effective, goal-driven solutions. This team-oriented culture extends directly to our clients as we involve them as active participants in the design process. Our combined experience and ideas lead to stronger relationships, more efficient processes, and the best solutions.
