How much will a survey cost?
- Lenz & Associates, Inc. calculates cost based upon the anticipated difficulty of, and estimated time needed to complete the project. Often the surveyor cannot predict the amount of work required to recover the necessary evidence. The time required to obtain field measurement and make boundary determination depends on the availability and proximity of the discovered evidence.
- Lenz & Associates, Inc will give you a cost based upon an hourly rate, experience with similar jobs, and a general knowledge of the area.
Why are some surveyors less expensive than others?
- Often, insurance plays a factor in this. Lenz & Associates, Inc. carries professional liability insurance, along with general liability insurance. You want to make sure that your surveyor is completely insured. Ask for a certificate of insurance, along with a client reference list.
- Choosing a surveyor who is familiar with your locality is very important. In many cases, a local surveyor may have performed work in the area and will be able to provide information not available through other sources.
Why is my recent survey different than my older survey?
- The first reason discrepancies between surveys occur is that measurement, by its nature, is subject to error. For example: one person can count one hundred beans and get the same number as someone else counting the same one hundred beans. However, if the two people measure a cup of beans, it is likely that they will each have a different number of beans. Two surveyors measuring the same line may obtain different values. Both of the values should be similar, but they will only approach the true theoretical value through repetition and statistical analysis.
- The second reason is that measurements are made from, and decisions are based upon found evidence. Surveys performed at different times may not have the same evidence available. As the available evidence change, the findings of the surveyor will also change.
I only need to find one property corner. Why do you need to do a whole survey?
- By law, we are required to check the location of the property corners with respect to other corners. The surveyor will be held responsible for the location of all of the property corners.
Can I use the survey the seller received when he or she closed on the property?
- The lender decides whether or not to accept the old survey. If there have been any improvements made to the property, e.g. fences, pool, buildings, or other permanent structures, the lender will require a new or updated survey.
What are the advantages to obtaining a new survey?
- A new survey will determine encroachments that are not reflected on the old survey. For example, if a fence was replaced sometime after the previous survey, but it was not placed in the correct location, the new survey would show this encroachment.
- It is also possible that a new easement was created after the previous survey and now you need to know where it is and how it affects you property. These are just a couple of examples of the benefits of having a new survey when you purchase property.
What is a topographic survey?
- A topographic survey illustrates locations of elevations, contours, and features on your property. This can be used to determine the slope of your property for drainage runoff, designing a structure, or adding to an existing structure.