Land surveying isn’t optional if you’re trying to build new property, make additions, settle boundary disputes, or sell your land or home. There are many questions you may have regarding surveying. Let our land surveyors here at Scalice Land Surveying help.
Our experts answer some of the most frequently asked questions about land surveying and much more. If you’re having trouble finding out which land survey you need or how much it will cost, you can read our FAQ pages to learn more.
Why Do You Need a Land Surveyor?
Why Do You Need a Land Surveyor?
Getting your land surveyed isn’t optional. Whether you’re trying to sell your property, construct a building, or add new additions to your home or business, you’ll need to survey your property by a licensed and certified land surveyor.
When you do a land survey, you can provide peace of mind to the buyer or get approval from the local government to begin your project. Don’t skip on this crucial step. Doing so can end up costing you a lot more in the long run.
Can NY Rising Help You?
The NY Rising program can help Long Islanders recover from several past hurricanes and other natural disasters. In addition, it can also provide Long Island homeowners resiliency for any future natural disasters. To qualify for this initiative, you will need to obtain an elevation certificate and a land survey from a qualified surveyor.
Should You Consider Raising Your Home?
In areas prone to flooding, hurricanes, and natural disasters, homeowners should consider raising their homes. Doing so can help curb the cost of insurance premiums and prevent any significant damages from taking place.
Raising your home requires a lot of prep work. If you want to raise your home, you’ll need a land survey and various certificates to get authorized to do so. In addition, construction companies and architects will greatly appreciate any reports you provide to make their job easier and of better quality.
Do You Need a FEMA Elevation Certificate?
If you live in a flood-prone area such as Long Island, you should obtain a FEMA elevation certificate. A licensed and qualified land surveyor can only issue these certificates. Home insurance premiums can be crippling, but getting a FEMA elevation certificate may help to lower the costs.
When Do I Need a Topographic Survey?
Topographic surveys measure elevations and other landforms you typically wouldn’t find on a basic land survey. You would need a topographic survey for when you:
- Conduct environmental restoration
- Redevelop land
- Build drainage ditches
- Provide additional information to builders or architects about the terrain
A licensed professional land surveyor should always do topographic surveys. Knowing the elevation and the terrain of your land will help save time and money for whatever project you’re doing on it.
What Type of Land Survey Do I Need?
The term land survey is a general term. Specific projects need certain types of land surveys. There are various types of land surveys you need as a property owner, depending on your project. These include:
- Subdivision surveys
- ALTA/NSPS land title surveys
- Boundary surveys
- Topographic surveys
Each survey has its own specific uses. For example, if you’re trying to resolve a property dispute, you might want to go with a simple boundary survey. On the other hand, if you’re trying to break up a large chunk of land into separate lots, a subdivision survey would be best.
How Do I Find My Property Boundaries?
If you need to find your property boundaries, the best way to do so is to consult with local records about the land you own. If there are none available, you should hire a land surveyor to determine where your property boundaries are accurately. Even though you can technically measure the boundaries yourself, it’s still best to get a professional to help you.
What Is the Cost to Survey My Property?
Getting a land survey done can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to more than a thousand dollars. It all depends on:
- The size of your property
- The scale of your project
- The type of survey you need
- The terrain of the land
- Any special requests or additional data you need
For the most accurate estimate of how much your land survey will cost, it’s best to talk with experienced land surveyors. Most land surveying services will offer you a free estimate to learn more about how much you’ll have to pay.
Who Pays for a Boundary Survey?
More often than not, the person who pays for a boundary survey is the one who requests it. While there are certain exceptions to this rule, on general principle, if you want a land survey done, you have to pay for it yourself. Thus, there’s very little reason to compel another party to pay for a boundary survey unless there’s a good legal reason to do so.
What Is the Difference Between a Land Survey and a Boundary Survey?
In understanding differences between land and boundary surveys, a land survey is an all-encompassing term. Land surveys are broad, and there are many different types available for landowners depending on the project they’re trying to complete. In contrast, a boundary survey is a type of land survey.
Boundary surveys are relatively straightforward to complete. The main goal of a boundary survey is to measure property lines. If you need a survey that measures other things, such as elevation, then you’ll need to request a different type of land survey.
Get Answers to Your Questions About Land Surveying
If you need land surveying services, you’ll need a licensed, certified, and professional land surveyor to do it for you. Even if you have the tools and knowledge to survey your property on your own, state law requires that a professional conduct the survey. We provide many different services:
- Land surveys (boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, subdivision)
- Civil engineering
- Site planning
- Staking property lines
- Construction layouts
For more specific information regarding surveying your land, you’ll need to get in touch with us by phone or through our online contact form to receive a free estimate.
