Sometimes, determining your property lines isn’t as simple as looking at your fences, especially if you own acres of land. If you want to build onto your house or construct another building or if you’re purchasing a new property, understanding your land’s boundaries is essential. A property survey is your best bet for getting the lay of your land.
How Does a Property Survey Work?
During a property survey, a professional land surveyor determines your legal boundaries. Depending on what you’re doing with your land, you can ask for a topographical survey, which uses a Bosch laser level to calculate how your property’s elevation changes throughout its area. This type of survey is popular with new homeowners who are applying for flood insurance; if your house is at the bottom of a steep incline, you’re at a higher risk for flash flooding.
Many property surveys check for easements as well. Easements are areas on land that you own that other people have a right to use. For example, even if you own a road, your neighbors may be entitled to use it to get to their property, especially if they don’t have other options.
Finally, most property surveys involve hazard area notations. These parts of your property are the ones that are risky to build on or that affect your property’s value. For example, if part of your property is over an underground aquifer, building on top of this area could cause your foundation to collapse into the water table.
How Do You Sign Up for a Survey?
If you’re ready to get a property survey, contact your county or town government to see if the previous landowner filed a survey. Your property lines may have shifted, especially if the area’s ownership has changed several times, but using old records can help you get a basic understanding of your boundaries. You can also check your property deed to see if your seller included a survey.
If you need to have a new survey conducted, reach out to a land surveyor who knows how to use specialized equipment such as a Bosch laser level. Make sure to leave plenty of time for your contractor to work, because he or she will need to research your property’s history and manually inspect it.
How Much Should You Pay for a Property Survey?
If you have lots of natural features such as streams, woods, and hills, your survey costs are higher than they would be for an empty lot. Expect to pay at least between $400 and $700, but know that your rates could be much higher if you own lots of acres.
What Are the Benefits?
Conducting a property survey with a Bosch laser level allows you to adequately plan for new construction or renovation projects. It also keeps you from getting in legal battles with your neighbors or your local government for accidentally building on land that doesn’t belong to you.
If you’re ready to understand how much property you own, reach out to a professional surveyor who has high-quality equipment from Engineer Supply.
