Land surveying, simply speaking, is the science (and art) of establishing or re-establishing property corners, property lines and/or boundaries.

There may be different reasons why someone needs a piece of property surveyed. Probably the most common one is to evaluate if a piece of land is vulnerable to flooding, to subdivide real estate to sell or deed to members of the family or to know if there are any encroachments.

This could happen when a neighbor disputes that you’re using a section of his lot or or vice-versa (for more on this, check this page).

How much does Land Surveying cost?

If you need to have a piece of land surveyed, the first thing that may come to mind is “how much will it cost?” There are numerous factors determining just how much land surveying your property would cost. The fact that this type of service must be accomplished by an expert contributes a lot to the total cost of the service, but choosing a non-professional to survey your land is dangerous, and probably illegal for the non-professional to do.

Because of this you should to take a good look around before settling with a surveying company. If you must work inside a particular budget, discuss this with the surveyor up front. Often he or she may be able to offer cost-saving steps to get the work you need done within your cost limits.T

he form of the land should also looked into. A square or a rectangular piece of land is easier to survey than an odd-shaped parcel, or one with many sides. With the latter, the surveyor will need to take more time in surveying the curves and the bends, which would mean the cost of the service would be higher. The actual measurement of the land is also a key factor here.

Keep in mind that the cost of land surveying is typically proportionate to the time and effort that a land surveyor would spend on the project. If the land that you’re having surveyed is not accessible, or has thick vegetation, then the total price of the survey could go higher. This is also true of the climate conditions, which could affect the work. Surveying in the summer is slower, in order to keep from putting the crew members in danger. Also, most surveying cannot be done in the rain.

When requesting an estimate, remember that surveyors base the estimate on expected conditions at the site. These conditions could change, resulting in additional costs. Always ask about these potential additional cost scenarios.

All that being said, competitive prices are also to be expected, which is why we recommend selecting a surveyor based upon his experience and reputation and not on the price he writes on a piece of paper. Usually it is far better to spend a good amount of money on a survey that’s well-done rather than pick a company with a very “affordable” price, but have the survey repeated because the results were wrong.

In conclusion, it is best to discuss the costs of the survey before you ask the surveyor to begin with his work. It’s also advisable to obtain a contract that lets you know what is expected of the land surveyor. This is one of the most important steps in having your land surveyed.

To get a free land surveying quote, call Dadeville Land Surveying at (256) 307-1447 or send us a message by going here.