A land survey is a necessary tool to determine property lines and to discover the features of a piece of land. While that might seem basic, there are many situations in which a land survey is necessary, particularly in settling a quarrelsome boundary line dispute. Read on to learn about more scenarios in which a survey is required.
Buying land
Buying a piece of property without having it surveyed is a huge mistake. In fact, your lender might not even let the sale go through! A survey will show exactly where the property line will be and give insight into any unseen land features. This is the only way to know precisely what you’re buying.
Meeting mortgage requirements
Speaking of a lender not letting you buy something, that’s where a mortgage survey comes into play. A mortgage survey lets your lender know that the property you plan on buying is exactly as it’s described in all other legal documents. Getting this type of land survey is one of the first steps in securing your mortgage.
Selling land
A survey also helps if you plan on selling any land. This will guarantee you’re selling your land for the right price and help avoid any potential legal trouble. Your buyer will also have a surveyor come out, but you’re doing your due diligence by having an initial survey performed.
Making existing improvements
Are you planning on building a fence, extending a driveway or adding onto your home? If so, your first step is hiring a land surveyor. The survey will help avoid any potential legal complications regarding height, dimension, frontage, building lines and more. Failing to get a land survey before adding on to your property could be a costly mistake.
Settling a boundary line dispute
As mentioned above, the only way to settle a boundary issue with your neighbor is with a boundary line survey. The survey will unequivocally show where your land stops and your neighbor’s land begins. Keep in mind that your neighbor might want to hire their own surveyor to double-check accuracy. Be sure to hire a reputable surveyor who will get it right the first time.
Locating utility lines
Your local power, water or gas company can come to your property to tell you where utility lines are located, but a land surveyor can also help here. Hire a surveyor before you excavate or begin construction to avoid severing any underground utility lines that could disrupt service for you or your neighbors.
Creating a will and testament
Drafting a will gets complicated when you own land and want to hand it down to friends and family. Hiring a reputable surveyor to assess the land is the best way to avoid potential disputes among family members after you pass and ensure your wishes can be carried out.
Hire D.G. Smyth & Co., Inc. today
Whether you need a mortgage survey, a survey to find utility lines or something else, contact our team at D.G. Smyth & Co., Inc. We’re a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) with over four decades of industry experience, so you can trust you’re getting accurate results with our team on your side.