A land survey allows you to understand your property’s boundaries by locating, describing, and mapping the boundaries and corners of a parcel of land. A land survey also might include the topography of the parcel and the location of buildings and other improvements made to the property.
Types of land surveys
There are different types of land surveys and as a property owner, you are able to have your property surveyed at any time. The type of land survey you need will depend on what type of information you need about your property.
- Boundary Survey – Boundary Surveys are highly accurate calculations of your property lines that can be relied on for property construction and other property improvements on both residential and commercial properties.
- Mortgage Location – A Mortgage Location Survey (MLS) is different from a boundary survey and is not used for construction or for boundary determinations, but rather to confirm that what is described in the property’s deed is what is actually transferring in real life as part of a real estate transaction. This product is solely for the use of lenders and title insurers.
- Topographic Survey – Topographic Surveys include field measurement and preparation of a plat to establish land elevations. These surveys are typically contracted by a residential or commercial property owner before making improvements to the property such as, but not limited to, additions, landscaping, or parking lots.
- ALTA Survey – An ALTA Survey is essentially a boundary survey plus a detailed depiction of property improvements, easements, and anything else impacting the parcel. It is used for a variety of reasons, from securing title insurance at the closing of a deal to being used as a design document for engineering purposes.
- Site Planning or Base Map – Typically used for development projects, a site plan or base map combines boundary and topographic surveys and utility location and helps to determine the starting point for the project.
Reasons to Have Your Property Surveyed
Land surveys aren’t always required in a real estate transaction, but even if not required they can be useful for a variety of reasons in helping to protect what is oftentimes your largest investment – your property.
Here are some of the most common reasons why you might need a land survey:
- Establish ownership by providing confirmation that what is transferred per the deed on paper, exists in reality.
- Resolve neighborly disputes and boundary issues and help to ensure good neighbor etiquette is adhered to.
- When building a new home, a land survey can identify things such as a flood zone, property lines, encroachments from neighbors, lot dimensions, building setbacks, and property elevations.
- Locate easements that place restrictions on how certain parts of your property can be used.
- Update an outdated land survey or property legal description.
- Prepare for a lot split/consolidation that includes either the splitting of a single parcel into two or more additional parcels or combining several parcels into a single parcel.
- Satisfy lender requirements for a land survey when acquiring a mortgage on a property.
- Secure title insurance.
- Identifying boundary lines for utility location.
Investing in a land survey is an investment in peace of mind, both now, and down the road that your largest investment is accurately documented and protected. At McSteen Land Surveyors we bring more than 50 years of experience to each real estate transaction. Contact us today to let us help you determine which type of survey best protects your real estate interests.