The importance of land survey before purchasing land

Buying land, whether commercial or residential, is actually a costly endeavor, even though prices have eased somewhat lately. This is the reason locating a parcel you like and making a deal for it without performing a land survey within the area is likely to be the greatest mistake that you could make.

Here’s why it’s extremely important that you have a land survey done first:

Land surveyors can determine whether you’re actually getting what you’re going to pay for. Land surveying establishes whether or not the sidewalks, trees, driveways and even the bird bath are part of the property you’re planning to buy. Land surveying also determines whether the neighbors are encroaching onto your property, which would then mean you’re likely to have problems later on with your neighbors.

Getting a land surveyor doesn’t only mean you will know what you’re getting or not getting; land surveyors are the experts, so they can help with building regulations, wetland regulations, etc. Please note that these regulations may change any time, but land surveyors ought to be updated on these regulations; or if not, they’ll refer you to somebody who is.

Let’s say the present landowner (the one selling the land) supplies you with old land survey documents. You should still hire your personal land surveyor to find out if the boundary monuments remain in position. Also, land surveying done a couple of years back might not show recent changes to the land. When the existing survey is older than about 10 years, you need to get the latest survey. Technology and surveying standards are much better now and could give you more confidence in the survey work.

In addition, that survey was completed for that owner. He might have instructed the surveyor not to show some things on the drawing. At least have a land surveyor get out there and evaluate the parcel using this survey in hand. We have witnessed numerous cases when a whole new land survey would save the customer thousands, so don’t be a victim.

I’ve heard many say getting a land surveyor is nothing but unnecessary expense. I’ll let you know what’s unnecessary: the worries brought on by paying thousands of dollars for something and finding yourself not receiving whatever you were expecting. If you’re smart, you’ll hire a professional surveyor to do the land survey prior to making any land purchases.