Not all land surveys serve the same purposes. While many of the steps taken in the different types of surveys are the same, the focuses may vary quite widely.
With this in mind, here is some information from a team of land surveyors in Texas about the various types of land surveys that exist:
- Boundary surveys: These surveys are exactly what you would expect based on their name: surveys that are performed to establish the true boundaries of any given property. Surveyors use previously recorded markers and other, newer landmarks to establish the true boundaries of the property, then mark the corners and lines of the plot with iron rods, pipes or concrete monuments. In past years, less-permanent markers such as trees and piles of stone were used, which could lead to some confusion if the markers were changed or destroyed. Today’s methods are more permanent and objective.
- Mortgage surveys: These surveys are required by title companies and mortgage lenders when providing financing to property buyers. The point of the survey is to demonstrate that there are not any structures encroaching on the property, and that all of the structures located on a given property abide by current zoning and building codes. You must have an officially licensed mortgage survey performed by a licensed land surveyor, rather than a mortgage inspection, as the latter is not regulated or accepted as an official land survey and will not produce the proper results you need for the purposes of your mortgage application.
- Topographic surveys: These are land surveys that are performed to locate both natural and manmade features on a specific piece of property, such as buildings, fences, land contours, streams, trees and elevations. Each of these features are presented as contour lines on a plot. Topographical surveys are often performed by government entities, but are also useful for architects and engineers when planning developments or improvements at a site.
- Construction surveys: Surveys are crucial tools in the construction industry to ensure proper planning of a new project or improvement. These surveys may be conducted several times during a construction project to verify that all work is being completed according to the laid-out specifications in the plan presented to the municipality. There are also specific types of construction surveys, such as foundation surveys, which ensure the foundation is built in the proper location and manner, and deformation surveys, which determine if a structure or object has changed its shape or moved in any way.
- Hydrographic surveys: These surveys collect information about bodies of water, including the depth, bottom contours, current direction, high water marks and water levels, locations of fixed objects and other types of landmarks. They are also occasionally used to collect information for engineering purposes, such as hydro power plants.
These are just a few examples of some of the most common types of surveys. For more information about the surveying process, or to schedule a meeting with a professional, contact the land surveyors in Texas at D.G. Smyth & Company today.