If you plan to partition your property or adjust property lines, you know you’ll require a land surveyor. You may also be hiring a land surveyor prior to buying real estate. Often, a land surveyor’s services are required by law. Even when they’re not, you’ll often save time and money down the line by bringing in a land surveyor who can provide a legally sound definition of your property’s boundaries.
That said, there are instances in which property owners disagree with the results of a land survey. Read on to find out how to approach land survey disputes.
What to do if you disagree with a land surveyor
Land surveyors work with the information available, which usually includes existing survey data and any information from the property deed, along with evidence observed on the ground. Utilizing this data and their knowledge of the law, land surveyors will draw conclusions used for a survey. The point is that a land survey is only as good as the data the surveyor has access to.
Every time a land surveyor determines a boundary, they’re trying to do so in the most accurate way possible. After all, their professional reputation is on the line. For this reason, it’s important to remember to approach any disagreement with a land surveyor carefully. They’re not getting it wrong on purpose, and they’re not trying to cheat you.
Options for recourse
If you speak with the land surveyor and are still unable to come up with a resolution, then you do have some options available:
- Hire a surveyor of your own: You can hire your own surveyor to create a separate boundary survey. It’s possible this second surveyor may come up with a different result, or may consider different data.
- Contact an attorney: A lawyer can provide useful guidance on how to proceed. It’s important to consider the value of the land in question and weigh that against the cost of moving forward with land survey disputes.
- Try to broker a solution: If a conflict has occurred between multiple parties, you may want to have them meet to mediate a resolution. It’s possible that the property owners and surveyors involved may be able to come up with terms everyone can live with.
- Taking your case to court: In cases where you believe a lot is on the line, and the interested parties aren’t open to a resolution, you can file a case in a court of law. This should be considered a last resort. Filing a case in court can be expensive, but it may be necessary if a solution can’t be found otherwise. This should only be done if there’s clear evidence that the survey is incorrect.
When you need experts to help settle a land survey dispute, turn to the professional and dependable team at D.G. Smyth & Co., Inc. We do it all, from simple mortgage surveys to complex topographical assessments. Our team has the knowledge and experience to provide precise, legally sound surveys every time. Give us a call today to find out how we can meet all your land surveying needs.