INTRODUCTION

Since a person may require the services of a Professional Land Surveyor only once during their lifetime, the may not be aware of the logical steps to be followed when selecting a Land Surveyor.

To help in making such a selection, we have prepared this page with the answers to a few commonly asked questions.

In general, a survey should be made before purchasing real property, when dividing any parcel of land for sale (in conformance with state laws and local ordinances), and prior to the construction of any improvements on property in which you have an interest.

Remember, the services of a Land Surveyor today will cost less in time, worry, and money than the cost of moving improvements or defending a lawsuit later.

HOW DO I CHOOSE A LAND SURVEYOR?

Only a Professional Land Surveyor (or Civil Engineer authorized to practice land surveying) licensed by the State Board of Registration is legally permitted to perform land surveys in the State of California.

Most active Land Surveyors are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone book, or a listing may be obtained from the California Land Surveyors Association.

A Land Surveyor is an integral part of a professional team composed of attorneys, engineers, architects, planners, and landscape architects. Some land surveying companies offer comprehensive services including some, or all of the above.

Choose a reputable Land Surveyor in whose skill and judgement you can put your trust. A Land Surveyor should not be selected by price alone. Competency is of first importance. Your selection should be made when you are sure that the professional that you have chosen has all of the facts, and is completely aware of your requirements and/or the requirements of the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the property.

Land Surveyors, like other professionals, vary in knowledge and ability. The experiences expressed by clients have shown that the majority of Land Surveyors provide competent work for a reasonable fee.

HOW MUCH WILL A SURVEY COST?

The cost for most land surveying work is determined, based on the following variables:

Type of survey: Cost may increase as the required precision and scope of the survey increases. Type of survey: Cost may increase as the required precision and scope of the survey increases.

Record search: This varies by (a) the number of parcels involved; and (b) the number of past transactions. (This necessary step is complicated by the casual manner in which land transactions have been handled in the past, resulting in many vague, incomplete, and often contradictory legal descriptions and land records). Record search: This varies by (a) the number of parcels involved; and (b) the number of past transactions. (This necessary step is complicated by the casual manner in which land transactions have been handled in the past, resulting in many vague, incomplete, and often contradictory legal descriptions and land records).

Size and shape of the property: An irregularly shaped parcel has more corners to monument than a rectangular parcel containing the same area. Size and shape of the property: An irregularly shaped parcel has more corners to monument than a rectangular parcel containing the same area.

Sectionalized Survey Work: This could require the survey of the entire section (640 acres +/-) in which the land being surveyed lies, regardless of the area of the parcel. In some cases, a survey of more than one section is required, depending on the location of the parcel in question in relation to the sections shown on the government plat. Sectionalized Survey Work: This could require the survey of the entire section (640 acres +/-) in which the land being surveyed lies, regardless of the area of the parcel. In some cases, a survey of more than one section is required, depending on the location of the parcel in question in relation to the sections shown on the government plat.

Terrain: A level parcel of land is easier to survey than a mountain parcel. Terrain: A level parcel of land is easier to survey than a mountain parcel.

Vegetation: Branches, brush, and small trees must frequently be cleared to afford a line of sight for the Surveyor. Shrubs, flowers and trees on home sites are normally not disturbed, but may require additional field time to perform work around them. Vegetation: Branches, brush, and small trees must frequently be cleared to afford a line of sight for the Surveyor. Shrubs, flowers and trees on home sites are normally not disturbed, but may require additional field time to perform work around them.

Accessibility: The time to perform the surveying work varies with the distance to, and the difficulty in reaching, the corners on the site. Accessibility: The time to perform the surveying work varies with the distance to, and the difficulty in reaching, the corners on the site.

Amount of existing evidence on the property: Existing evidence such as iron, wood, or stone monuments, old fences and occupation lines, witness trees, etc. aid the Surveyor. Their absence may compound difficulties involved in retracing the original survey. Amount of existing evidence on the property: Existing evidence such as iron, wood, or stone monuments, old fences and occupation lines, witness trees, etc. aid the Surveyor. Their absence may compound difficulties involved in retracing the original survey.

Local knowledge of property: Someone pointing out accepted occupation lines and monumentation is a considerable aid to the Surveyor. Local knowledge of property: Someone pointing out accepted occupation lines and monumentation is a considerable aid to the Surveyor.
Abutter Difficulties: When neighbors are cooperative, and otherwise difficult or impossible boundary line location may be established by boundary line agreement.

Time of Year: In summer, foliage may present problems making traversing difficult. In winter, weather may slow travel to and on site, and sometimes conceal field evidence. Time of Year: In summer, foliage may present problems making traversing difficult. In winter, weather may slow travel to and on site, and sometimes conceal field evidence.

Title Company Requirements: Title companies may require considerably more documentation than is normally required by the average land owner. Title Company Requirements: Title companies may require considerably more documentation than is normally required by the average land owner.

Record of Survey or Corner Record: This map or record is often required by state law if matters addressed by the Land Surveyors Act are encountered while surveying your property. This will cause the mapping costs to increase, and requires the payment of map checking and recording fees. Record of Survey or Corner Record: This map or record is often required by state law if matters addressed by the Land Surveyors Act are encountered while surveying your property. This will cause the mapping costs to increase, and requires the payment of map checking and recording fees.

Because of these variables, it is difficult to determine the exact fees. However based on general experience and the requirements for the work, the Surveyor can furnish an approximate estimate of the costs. Land surveyors familiar with an area or locale are usually more efficient than those who are not.

WHAT WILL A LAND SURVEYOR DO FOR ME?

Question: Will a Land Surveyor tell me what I own?
Answer: No. It is your responsibility to furnish the Surveyor with a legal description, current title report, or policy concerning the parcel that you want surveyed. He/she will then locate the property on the ground, marking the corners with physical monuments, and provide you with a survey map showing the results of the survey. He/she will also disclose the areas that are in conflict so that the title company and/or attorney can resolve any problems.

Question: Will I be shown if there are any encroachments on the property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Land Surveyor to show encroachments in the area of concern to you. Question: Will I be shown if there are any encroachments on the property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Land Surveyor to show encroachments in the area of concern to you.

Question: Will I be shown if there are any easements on my property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Surveyor to do so, and provide a current title report or title policy to use for this purpose. He/she may supply a map, plat, or exhibit showing this information. Question: Will I be shown if there are any easements on my property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Surveyor to do so, and provide a current title report or title policy to use for this purpose. He/she may supply a map, plat, or exhibit showing this information.

Question: How will I be shown what has been surveyed?
Answer: Corners of the property will be marked with stakes, pipes, or other such monuments with the Professional Land Surveyors license number indicated thereon. The corners on the parcel will be pointed out to you, if requested. A record of survey or corner record will be filed when these monuments are set, indicating dimensions of property lines, monuments, and other relative data as required by the Land Surveyors Act, the client, or others. Question: How will I be shown what has been surveyed?
Answer: Corners of the property will be marked with stakes, pipes, or other such monuments with the Professional Land Surveyors license number indicated thereon. The corners on the parcel will be pointed out to you, if requested. A record of survey or corner record will be filed when these monuments are set, indicating dimensions of property lines, monuments, and other relative data as required by the Land Surveyors Act, the client, or others.

Question: Should I explain why I want a survey?
Answer: Yes. If the Surveyor knows why you want a survey, he/she can recommend the type of survey you need, and how much detail should be shown on the map, plat, or exhibit. Question: Should I explain why I want a survey?
Answer: Yes. If the Surveyor knows why you want a survey, he/she can recommend the type of survey you need, and how much detail should be shown on the map, plat, or exhibit.

Question: Why are there conflicting boundary and easement lines?
Answer: It is often true that boundary/easement line disputes, gaps, and overlaps are a result of legal descriptions which were originally written and recorded without the benefit of the services of a competent Land Surveyor. It is important to have these lines properly described and surveyed, if necessary, when property or easement lines are created or changed. Any newly created or adjusted boundary line requires processing through the local governmental agency as required by the Subdivision Map Act and local ordinance. Question: Why are there conflicting boundary and easement lines?
Answer: It is often true that boundary/easement line disputes, gaps, and overlaps are a result of legal descriptions which were originally written and recorded without the benefit of the services of a competent Land Surveyor. It is important to have these lines properly described and surveyed, if necessary, when property or easement lines are created or changed. Any newly created or adjusted boundary line requires processing through the local governmental agency as required by the Subdivision Map Act and local ordinance.

METHODS OF SURVEYING

Most Surveyors use electronic distance and angle measurement equipment, as well as the traditional transit and tape. Modern computer systems aid in efficiently gathering measurements and in evaluating all collected evidence required to perform the survey. The Land Surveyor takes pride in being able to use these instruments and computers to perform land surveys efficiently, accurately, and cost effectively.

TYPES OF LAND SURVEYS

A.L.T.A. Survey or Extended Title Insurance Coverage Survey:

A survey made for the purpose of supplying a title company and lender with survey and location data necessary for issuing American Land Title Association or Extended Coverage Title Insurance.

Boundary Survey:

A survey for the express purpose of locating the corners and boundary lines of a given parcel of land. This involves record and field research, measurements, and computations to establish boundary lines in conformance with the Professional Land Surveyors Act. Easement lines may also be located and/or established with this type of survey.

Topographic Survey:

A survey locating topographic features--natural and man made--such as buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, trees, streams, contours of the land, etc. This type of survey may be required by a governmental agency or may be used by engineers and/or architects for design improvements or developments on a site.

Site Planning Survey:

A combination of boundary and topographic surveys for preparation of a site plan to be used for designing improvements or developments.

Subdivision Survey:

The subdivision of a tract of land into smaller parcels, showing monumentation and survey data on a map, in conformance with local ordinances and the Subdivision Map Act.

Control Survey:

Precise location of horizontal and vertical positions of points for use in boundary determination, mapping from aerial photographs, construction staking, and other related purposes.

Court Exhibit Survey:

Analysis of various legal descriptions and survey maps; field locating of record, existing monuments, and physical features; and mapping showing this information for the purpose of presenting a visual exhibit to be used in a courtroom.

Construction Survey:

Construction staking of improvements shown on improvement plans for control of construction on developments for roads, buildings, pipelines, etc.

LAND SURVEYOR-CLIENT RELATIONS

The Professional Land Surveyor renders a highly technical and complex service. He/she is a member of a professional team--attorney, title company, architect, engineer, and others--and prepares the foundation upon which your project is built.

In cases of controversy, a Land Surveyor appears in court in your behalf as an expert witness. No one else can assume responsibility for the correctness and accuracy of the work performed by an individual Surveyor.

California Land Surveyors Association Members are dedicated to the highest possible standards of professional practices in the public's interest.

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