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Top Reasons You Need a Land Survey

The first step in the building and home improvement process is performing a land survey. A land survey provides homeowners and property buyers with essential information about their plots. It brings both design and construction together to form a structured plan.

From engineers to mortgage lenders to residential homeowners, everyone needs a land survey at some point. Land surveys can help with numerous tasks, from identifying plot sizes to avoiding encroachment of other properties. We have outlined the top reasons for land surveys below.

Making Permanent Property Upgrades

If you own a home, you’re going to perform improvements to it. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reports that homeowners performed over 114 million improvement projects between 2017 and 2019. And with each of those property improvement projects comes a land survey from qualified professionals.

One reason homeowners need land surveying is when installing permanent improvements on a plot of land. This includes:

A professional land survey provides a detailed snapshot of the property’s features. It locates current structures, so developers and engineers can determine if the renovations are a good fit. The survey also allows county officials to ensure the parcel adheres to local construction and building codes throughout the development process.

Adding or Demolishing Construction

Builders (or anyone involved with a construction plan) need to obtain a property survey before moving forward with a project. A land survey acts as a map for developers. It outlines the:

In addition, a property survey also demonstrates how the project adheres to building codes and zoning regulations, making surveying an integral part of the development process.

While all construction projects should start with a survey, the type of land survey depends on the design plans. For example, site plans provide blueprints for new outdoor structures, while topographic surveys guide drainage and new building development plans.

Dividing a Plot of Land

Another reason you need a land survey is if you want to divide a parcel of land into separate lots. Similar to when making property upgrades, land surveying guides the subdivision process.

A survey maps out what is needed for a property subdivision, demonstrates how the property will be divided, and designates identifiers to the new lots and blocks. During the evaluation, a licensed land surveyor will:

Acquiring a Mortgage or Selling an Estate

A land survey is needed during a property sale, so both the buyer and seller are aware of the property’s exact dimensions, acreage, and plot size. It ensures the estate’s property lines match its legal description in the deed.

A mortgage or title company may also have a reason to require a survey to analyze the property’s risk. The survey information is collected as part of the sale’s due diligence and will be required to finalize the transaction.

Identifying Plot Size

Professionals can determine the size of a piece of land. A survey provides landowners with exact acreage and dimension information. A boundary survey, the most common type of survey, also defines lot lines and property corners.

Why do you need a land surveyor to determine boundary lines? When building permanent property features, you need to know where your estate ends, and the next one begins. You cannot allow fences, rooflines, and other permanent structures to encroach onto a neighboring chunk of land.

Staking property lines and land surveying ensures new construction remains on your property and helps you avoid a lawsuit. Likewise, a boundary survey can help you determine if a neighboring landowner is encroaching on your piece of property.

Classifying Property Zones

A land survey determines if a property is zoned for residential or industrial use. The surveyor verifies property classification and reports the property’s jurisdiction. From there, a professional can use zoning requirements to determine if they can legally run a business from their estate.

Reporting Visible Water Features

Reasons for land surveys also include locating and reporting visible surface water on a piece of land. Visible water features include:

Visible bodies of water can impact and occasionally deter new construction. Therefore, it is necessary to map out all bodies of water before purchasing a property or starting new construction.

Locating Burial Sites

While uncommon, it is possible to find a cemetery or burial ground within your boundary lines. A professional land surveyor can locate the burial site. Technicians use survey data to estimate the size of the burial area and the number of graves on your parcel of land.

Obtaining Flood Insurance

If your property is in a flood zone, you need an elevation certificate to obtain flood insurance. To get an elevation certificate, you first need a land survey. Surveyors inspect a property and create a report that outlines the:

Insurance agents use this data to analyze flood risk and generate flood insurance rates.

If You Need a Land Survey, Professionals Can Help

There are a variety of reasons you may need a land surveyor. But the good news is there are plenty (over 48,000 professional surveyors, to be exact) of qualified property surveyors available to help.

When choosing a land surveying team, stick with professionals who understand local laws, are familiar with your terrain, and deliver accurate reports. Your land survey will not only help you better understand your property, but it will become an asset to developers when adding new improvements and construction to your estate.

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