4 Tips for Land Surveying
Considering how important land surveying is, many people don't understand what goes into planning for a proper surveying process. Land surveys are critical when establishing boundaries, purchasing a new property or subdividing land. And yet, there are common mistakes that landowners repeatedly make with regards to this important process.
To avoid falling victim to the same trend, here are four surveying tips that you should be aware of.
1. Carry out a new land survey before buying or developing
Surveying is a delicate process that requires attention to detail. Over the years, a piece of land may undergo geographical and developmental changes that could affect survey data. This means that a survey from 10 years ago may not accurately denote your boundaries. Furthermore, you may not be able to confirm that the old survey data is accurate or reliable. Simply trusting old surveys may result in complications with your property down the road. Consider having an updated land survey carried out before you purchase or develop your property.
2. Keep potential boundary disputes in mind
Most people have neighbours, and getting along with them can be more complicated than it sounds. In fact, neighbour boundary disputes frequently arise when one person is trying to build a new fence, a garage or other similar structure.
You shouldn't simply assume that your neighbours won't mind about their boundaries. Make sure you get a quality survey done to avoid encroaching on other people's property. A survey can also help you protect your property from encroachment done by others.
3. Hire a professional land surveyor to avoid litigation
Having a professional survey done could cost you much less than undergoing litigation for encroachment. Timely surveys can also help you avoid disruptions to your development projects after you've already began. It costs much less to plan for a land survey than to tear down a structure or fight a case in court. Hire a land surveyor in your area to avoid litigation.
4. Survey the land before building a new fence
When you purchase a property, your first action may be to build a fence as soon as possible. But make sure you don't build the fence before having a professional survey completed. Using old property lines as a guide may result in encroachment due to various reasons. First, older fences had many inaccuracies because land surveying technology wasn't advanced. Furthermore, many old fences were simply built after estimating (and not accurately measuring) boundaries. Make sure you invest in a proper land survey before investing in a fence.