As a property owner, you probably have a general idea of where your land begins and ends. However, if you want to have an exact determination of the land you own down to the inch, you need the assistance of a professional land surveyor to perform a boundary survey in Texas for you.
What exactly do land surveyors look at when attempting to determine boundary lines during the surveying process? Here are some of the processes involved in the survey to give you an idea:
- Analysis of initial surveys: Surveyors will first check with your county government to see if there is an initial survey on record for your property. This survey might be decades old (or even older), but will still provide some important information. Surveys are required in an initial plotting of any parcel of land, and will have dimensions that are based off landmarks or stakes around your home. Some of these stakes or landmarks may very well still exist.
- Conducting measurements: Surveyors have special equipment they use to conduct accurate measurements of your land. They’ll use these tools to figure out the exact dimensions of certain areas of the property, then map out those dimensions with stakes or spray paint for an easier visual reference. Again, these stakes often stay in place long into the future, especially if they’re made out of metal, and are often driven down into the ground.
Once the surveyor has analyzed all the information he or she needs and completes the measurements, he or she will sign and file the survey and provide it to county authorities and financial institutions, who will then update the paperwork they already have on file (if any) for your property.
Why is it important to have a boundary survey performed?
You might wonder why you’d bother getting a boundary survey done if you already own the property. Many people are mistakenly under the impression that surveyors only work to measure and stake new property parcels.
However, surveyors are also used in the sale or purchase of any home or property, or when someone refinances an existing mortgage loan. This is done for the purposes of the bank—it’s important for the bank to know the exact amount of land the loan is supposed to apply to. In addition, insurance companies want to know how close the property lies to features such as bodies of water or potential hazards.
If you wish to build on your property, a survey will help you determine if there are any wells or wires underneath the ground that you should be aware of, and will also ensure you know exactly where your land starts and ends so you don’t accidentally build on someone else’s lot.
Are you looking for professional assistance for a boundary survey in Texas? We encourage you to contact D.G. Smyth & Company today and we will be happy to answer any questions you have about our services. We look forward to working with you soon.