ALTA/NSPS Surveying & Land Title Surveys

What Is an ALTA Land Survey?

An ALTA survey is a boundary survey for Title Companies and/or Lenders for the issuing of title or mortgage insurance. Before granting insurance, title companies want to make certain that a property does not raise any survey risks. These risks include boundary line disputes, encroachments, or undocumented easements. If the ALTA/NSPS surveyor doesn’t find any potential survey risks, the title company knows it is safe to move forward with issuing title insurance to the property owner.

The ALTA land title survey is designed to ensure that properties meet the minimum precision and detail requirements established jointly by the American Land Title Association (ATLA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). Another organization involved is the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). ALTA/ACSM surveys meet the highest standards of surveys and are part of due diligence when property is being transferred or refinanced.

What Is Included in ALTA Surveying?

ALTA specifies the data to be shown on the ALTA land survey. These title surveys include details on boundary lines, location of the main building including improvements, location of ancillary buildings, and the identifications of easements (access rights by service companies such as water, gas, telephone, railways, and other utilities).

An ALTA site survey can also include other items such as underground utility location, height of building, square footage of the building, and underground structures. It serves as a sort of “x-ray” of your property, allowing you to see potential problems you might otherwise have missed.

Issues that are commonly identified by an ALTA/NSPS survey can include: differing legal descriptions, legal descriptions with mathematical discrepancies, unexpected easements/encroachments, boundary disputes, and zoning issues. By ordering an ALTA/NSPS survey, you’re investing in the peace of mind of knowing that there are no potential legal or financial risks associated with your property.

Why Choose Us

Since 2013, our talented and experienced team has used cutting-edge equipment and technology to perform ALTA/NSPS land surveys efficiently, thoroughly, and at a highly competitive price point. We equip our surveyors with the most up-to-date tools the industry has to offer to exceed your expectations for your survey. If you’re looking for an ALTA land survey company that offers white-glove customer service and never cuts corners, look no further than Scalice.

Our company’s founder, Michael J. Scalice, got his start in the surveying business as a boy working with his grandfather, Richard C. Drake PLS, during the summers. A full-time land surveyor since 2000, Scalice is a licensed professional New York State land conveyor with vast experience in every aspect of land surveying.

With crews of licensed professionals working in Long Island, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Connecticut, we stay current with the latest regulations for property ownership, subdivision, and construction. This family-owned-and-operated land surveying company has completed over 6000 land surveys to date. When you choose Scalice as your ALTA survey company, you can rest assured that you’re working with land survey experts.

Get a Free Quote

We know that securing a mortgage and title insurance is integral to realizing your property ownership goals, so you need a land surveying company that will leave no stone unturned when evaluating your lot.

With a collective 75 years of experience, the crew members at Scalice Land Surveying know exactly what to look for to ensure that you won’t run into any conflicts with neighboring property owners or run afoul of any zoning regulations when you purchase or refinance your lot. You can learn more about our ALTA survey report and the cost of an ALTA survey by requesting a free estimate from Scalice.

Contact us today at (855) 476-4111 to schedule an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey. We’ll review your goals for the survey and offer details on our matching services during a free initial consultation. You can also contact us by submitting a survey query or quote request via our online contact form.

Who Needs an ALTA Surveyor?

The property owner is responsible for ordering an ALTA survey when one is necessary. After all, the property owner will be held responsible if the property boundaries are contested or a zoning regulation is violated.

If you are unsure if an ALTA property survey is right for your situation or if another type of survey would do the trick, contact our team of New York land surveyors. We can discuss your survey needs, determine whether an ALTA survey is right for you, and offer a free quote.

When Is an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Recommended or Required?

When dealing with commercial property, a Title Company/Lender may require you to perform an ALTA survey when a commercial property is being refinanced or exchanging hands. This is done to remove any “risks” such as encroachments, easements, and boundary line disputes.

When buying land, an ALTA/NSPS survey might not be required, but it is definitely recommended. There is always a chance that a survey on vacant land is either non-existent or outdated. This comes with unforeseen boundary or encroachment issues that are unknown at the time of purchase. An ALTA survey will resolve any of these issues before you make a costly purchase.

How Long Does an ALTA Survey Take?

The length of time it takes to complete an ALTA survey can vary significantly depending on several factors. Every property is unique, and until a full assessment of your property has been completed, an accurate time frame cannot be established. You can rest assured that our ALTA land surveying team will complete the survey as efficiently as possible while still providing an exhaustive review of potential trouble areas on your property.

All New York land survey companies understand the challenges that can stretch out the length of time it takes to complete an ALTA land survey. Because these surveys involve checking for compliance with the regulations of many different parties, they cannot be rushed. However, by leveraging the latest technology, exhaustive knowledge of ALTA/NSPS regulations, and in-depth research, our team will complete your ALTA survey as quickly as possible.

How Long Is an ALTA Survey Good For?

There is no set timeline for how long an ALTA land title survey remains valid. Generally speaking, anytime a change is made to your property–such as a subdivision or new construction–all previous surveys are rendered obsolete. Whenever an ALTA survey is required, the party that requested the survey will expect it to be accurate and up to date.

If you have not made any changes to your property since your last ALTA survey, you can ask the requesting party if the previous survey will suffice or if you need to have a new ALTA survey performed.

How Much Does an ALTA Survey Cost?

An ALTA survey cost varies depending on several factors. Some of these factors include size and uniqueness of the property, the quality of the terrain for building, and the location of the property.

At Scalice Land Surveying we offer ALTA/NSPS surveys at a competitive price and in a shorter time frame. We do this by utilizing the latest in equipment/technology. This allows our crews to have the best and most up-to-date information possible before they leave the office. It also gives our team the ability to pick up title problems quicker and more efficiently.

Over the years our surveyors have completed countless ALTA surveys across the US. They have an intricate knowledge of what the title company and real estate attorneys are looking for when closing on the property.

Other Surveying Services That We Offer

Scalice Land Surveying conducts many other types of surveys in addition to ALTA Surveys. These include:

• Boundary Surveys. This type of survey, also known as a title or mortgage survey, ensures that the existing boundary of a property conforms to its legal description. Boundary surveys are particularly important if you’re planning to purchase a new property, build new construction on your existing property, or expand or divide existing property. This type of survey protects you from potential disputes over legal boundaries with neighboring property owners.
• Subdivision Surveys. This type of surveying, also called subdivision platting, is performed when a property owner wishes to divide a lot into two or more lots. Subdivision surveying ensures that the new lots meet the setback and zoning requirements for the owner’s district.
• Topographic Surveys. This type of survey must be conducted when a property owner wishes to secure a building permit to build a new house or a small addition on the newly divided property. A topographic survey is also required for certain types of drainage systems and landscaping features.