Whether you intend to purchase new land or you have plans to build on property you already own, there are several reasons why you may need a land survey. But just why is getting one so important? And during which step of the construction process do you actually need one? We’re here to answer your questions and provide you with all of the details you need to know about land surveys.
First of all, there are many reasons why getting a land survey may not only be beneficial, but may actually be a requirement for moving forward with your plans. Some of the reasons why you may need one include when you are trying to decide if a new project will encroach on someone else’s property, when you need to determine whether or not a building is in a flood hazard area, and when you are preparing a subdivision layout.
Of course, these are just some of the many reasons why a land survey may be needed. But how do you know when to get one? Well, in general it is a good idea to contact a land surveyor like us before any land titles are transferred between the parties involved. It should also be done before any land is subdivided, and before construction begins on any land that is nearby roads or existing buildings.
These are just some simple guidelines to follow to help you determine when you may need a land survey. For more information about when and why to get one for your property, give us a call today!
Getting a land survey to determine sub-divisions of property seems like a really good reason. I bought a piece of land that I would like to develop, so getting it surveyed seems like a good way to make sure that the work I’m doing won’t encroach on someone else’s property. I’ll remember to do that before my land is subdivided and worked on. Thanks for the tips!
Thank you for the thoughts. I am hoping to buy a piece of land soon to be a house on. Admittedly, I hadn’t thought of the need for a land surveyor in this process. I see it is definitely a safe idea though. Should I try to have the land surveyed before I even buy it?
Thank you for the article on land surveying. I am doing some research for a construction class for an end of the semester project and needed to know if the mock location that I am to build on needed a surveyor. I will be sure to use this information and these simple guidelines again in the future! Thanks again!
I’d always heard that getting land surveyed would be a good idea, but I’d never thought that it may actually be required. Before I start working on a project, now I’m going to check and see if I need to have anything done. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
This is some really helpful information for any land owner or prospective buyer. I had no idea that it was often required in order to move forward with construction or development plans, but that definitely makes sense. I also never knew that land surveying could tell you so much about a plot of land, even if it’s on a flood danger zone. Thanks so much for writing!
There are tons of different land surveyors out there that you can really get one for any occasion. I know that they are really good with the new properties and new projects that are going on. You generally see them come before the construction begins which helps them find out where the construction team is going to start their project.
I am glad to know how important it is that you get your land surveyed before you start construction. That is interesting that land surveying can be required in the moving process. Your post was helpful in discussing why a land survey might be something to consider in the future.
Cool post! Thank you for helping me understand why I should have my land surveyed. I like how you said that “Some of the reasons why you may need one include when you are trying to decide if a new project will encroach on someone else’s property, when you need to determine whether or not a building is in a flood hazard area, and when you are preparing a subdivision layout.” I have never had my land surveyed before but I can see how it can be helpful when it comes to preventing any accidents from happening.
My wife and I want to buy a piece of property so that we can build a house on it. One of the things that we need to do is get the land surveyed and I was confused about why that was necessary. Thanks for explaining some of the reasons why you would get your land surveyed. I can see why it would be vital if it helped you avoid buying land that was in flood area or some other hazard. Thanks for the info!
Great article! I think we should check license and insurance of surveyor as it will provide you peace of mind when any unwanted situation occurs on site. Thanks
My husband and I are looking to build our dream home. The area we are looking at already has some properties on it, so we want to get the land surveyed just as a precaution. I wouldn’t want to be on someone else’s property line and have troubles after the building process is already done.
Getting your property is an absolute must if you’re planning to build a house from scratch on it since you need to know exactly where your property boundaries lie. As the article points out, it can be very troublesome to encroach on a neighboring property when you’re building a new home. Rather than deal with all of the legal work that comes about from that, it’s better to just get the land surveyed in the first place and save yourself the trouble.
Simon’s comments are spot on. In Perth our land surveyors survey every property prior to construction, initially to determine the contour and features on the land, and then to re-establish the boundaries and mark out the building to ensure no encroachments occur. I agree with this article in saying it is a good idea to re-establish the properties lot boundaries prior to purchasing, to determine if there are any significant encroachments that my affect or restrict your proposed development, or to ascertain the land area and dimensions on title is what is on the ground. A lot of old areas in Perth have significant encroachments.
I loved your suggestion to contact a land surveyor before land titles are exchanged. It makes sense to have the land surveyed for anything that could be a potential problem before getting a title. If there’s any potential for conflict, that may also be a good time to get the land surveyed.
I think it would be a great idea to get a land surveyor so you make sure you don’t build where you shouldn’t. It would be awful if you built your home only to find out that it is on your neighbor’s property. So, I can already see a great benefit of a land surveyor and I am sure there are many more!
I like that you included that, sometimes, getting a land survey is required for doing a project. I think that it is important to realize that, when hiring a surveyor, you need to choose someone that does comprehensive reports. There are many levels of the land that need to be noticed. I think that, if I were trying to develop some land, I would make sure to get one with a biological portion.
Thanks for pointing out that a land surveyor will be able to tell you if your project is going to overlap onto someone else’s property. You also said that they can help to make sure your land isn’t in a flood-prone area. I think it’s a good idea to choose a land surveyor that comes with great referrals from other builders that you know, to make sure that you’re getting a reputable surveyor.
I had no idea that I could need to get surveying services for a project that may be up against someone else’s property! I’ve been wanting to put a big garage in the back corner of my yard that would touch my next door neighbor’s property, as well as the neighbors whose back yard touches ours. I’ll have to look into surveying services for my project just to make sure that we are staying within our limits. Thank you for the information!
My grandparents own a very large property and plan to build a fence a round it. It has been years since they bought it, so they’re not quite sure where the property ends and begins. Like you said, it’s a good idea to get a land survey so that they don’t end up building on any land that isn’t theirs.
I like how you say that you would want to contact a land surveyor before you actually sign a land title. It would make sense to have the property surveyed beforehand because that way you could find out everything about it. My sister wants to buy a piece of land to build a house on, so she’ll have to find a land surveyor before she actually signs the land title.
Thanks for explaining when you may need a land survey. I hadn’t realized that a good reason to get a survey is to determine if you are building in a flood hazard area. If I were to guess, it would be really beneficial to know this to make sure that the land is safe to build on. It’s better to plan ahead and do your research rather than regretting it later.
Thanks for the great article. You wrote that land surveys are a necessity as it ensures that you don’t encroach on someone else’s property. I’d heard that you should always hire a land surveying service if you are planning on doing a construction job. If your project ends up on someone else’s property, that could cause a whole mess of legal complications.
That’s interesting that you’d need one before creating a subdivision. My family is considering turning our farmland into a subdivision. We’ll definitely look into this when we get to the planning stage. Thanks for the information.
Yes…a survey is definitely needed for a subdivision to be able to accurately describe the lands to be conveyed. Also, not knowing where you are from, some local governing bodies have subdivision regulations that require their approval prior to the conveyance of any subdivided lots. You may want to check with your local body, town or village, to see if they have subdivision regulations.
It’s great that you pointed out how land surveying helps you understand the lay of the land before you embark on a project so you can tell if the land is suitable for its intended purpose. My husband wants to build a greenhouse for his orchids on our spare plot of land. It’s great that I came across this article when I did because now I can see that we have to check that plot of land first if it is suited for a greenhouse. I’d be sure to consult with a professional surveyor about this. Thanks for the educational read!
Thank you for replying. It is important to make sure your planned location is in conformance with you local zoning ordinances as far as set backs from your property lines.