ALTA Survey Coordination

Posts Tagged ‘property surveys’

Local Chartered Surveyors – The Benefits Of Using Local Chartered Surveyors
The past few years have seen a huge slump in building surveys and a general decline in property surveys necessitated by changes in ownership. This article
attempts to look at the importance of using local chartered surveyors for home buyers survey, structural survey and building surveys.
On average it takes around five years to become a Chartered Surveyor and that’s on top of graduating with an accredited degree. Given the length of time
it takes to gain the required knowledge and the degree of dedication required to become chartered they certainly deserve their status as the highest form of property and land
surveyor.

Homebuyers Survey
In recent years the number of homebuyers commissioning building surveys – do not confuse with valuation surveys required by the lender – has
dropped dramatically to around 25%.
Given that most homebuyers are buying property that will take them a lifetime to pay for, it is quite ludicrous that they should cut out the property or home
buyers survey out of their budget to save a few quid. In reality this is the point where they should have the best survey they can afford and for that survey to be carried out by a local
chartered surveyor rather than a friendly builder.

Local Chartered Surveyors
Using the word local in context with surveyor is extremely important because only a local surveyor has the experience and knowledge to prepare a property
report that will fully include his or her extensive local knowledge which will have been collected over many years in that locality.
Local surveyors, especially chartered surveyors know everything there is to know about property and land within their locality and it is for that reason that
where possible you should always engage the services of a local chartered surveyor.
Sure, we all want to save a few quid and just because a structural survey or building surveys is not forced upon us don’t mean that we shouldn’t
have it. The idea of putting your life’s savings into an old house without a decent survey is a recipe for disaster. After all what does the average homeowner know about subsidence,
dry rot, rising damp, sagging roofs and bulging bricks all of which cost a fortune to repair and in most cases will involve remortgaging to pay for reinstatement.

Valuation Surveys
Some people think that a valuation survey is good enough and that if there are any major problems with the property you are intending to purchase the
valuation survey will pick it up and the lender will tell you. In reality you will not get a copy of the valuation report and the lender is unlikely to disclose any details of the
valuation survey even if there are major defects.
All the lender is concerned about is their investment and regardless of faults picked up on the valuation survey, if the property is valued enough to cover
their loan then they’re happy. I should point out of course is that no lender will lend you money on a property without a survey so why on earth would you buy a property without
your own survey.
The lesson is simple, if you are planning on buying a property, have the best survey you can afford and if possible have it done by a local chartered
surveyor. In the long run it is the best property insurance you can buy and later if there is a problem then you have something to fall back on.

Finding Chartered Surveyors
You can find local chartered surveyors and compare prices for all types of property
survey including home buyers survey, building survey and structural survey at Surveyors Supermarket, on of the UK’s leading Building Surveying sites.

About the Author:

About The Author
Tom Norris is the Managing Director of the QFJ Media Price Comparison Network and writes passionately each week in the Compare Prices Supermarket Blog and Solar Panels Supermarket about home improvement and renewable energy issues.

Land title surveys

Determine Accurate Property Lines with Land & Property Surveys

Land surveying is a critical component in design and construction in almost every aspect of real estate development. As the first step in real estate development process, it is the job of a Land Surveyor to collect all the information pertaining to an area. This includes marking the boundaries of land, creating maps and legal descriptions, and planning and organizing the development of the property. A surveyor creates a stable foundation of useful information on which people can build their homes and communities.

On the residential side, land surveyors are typically hired when buying or selling properties, or making home improvements such as adding a fence, improving landscaping, adding a pool or more square footage to a property.   Commercially, land surveyors are utilized for subdivision requests, and mortgage financing.  When looking to start a build, improve an existing build or refinance a property a land surveyor should be one of your first hires.

There are some highly proficient Land Surveyors in Los Angeles, California who offer a wide range of surveying services.  Before contacting one, it is important to understand the types of surveying services that are available, so when you make a surveyor inquiry you know what to ask for.  The following are commonly requested surveying services:

Aerial Topographic Surveys: Very large properties or those with rugged/rough terrain may require an aerial survey to map the topography. Some cities require maps to show an entire area’s topography, even beyond property lines, in order to determine buildable area, environmental impact, and building setbacks.

A.L.T.A. (American Land & Title Association) Survey: When refinancing or purchasing properties valued in excess of $1,000,000, title companies will require individuals to purchase title insurance. The purpose of an ALTA survey is to inform the buyer of what they are getting, and the insurer of what they are insuring. The survey maps created by professional land surveyors conform to the ALTA standards, showing the property lines, visible utilities, buildings, and features such as driveways, pools or play courts
Architectural Surveys: When planning for improvements to a property such as a building remodel or addition, adding a swimming pool, a new patio or landscaping, an architectural survey is often necessary to obtain proper permits. An architectural survey will show property lines, all visible utilities, buildings, walls and fences, hardscape and landscape.
Boundary Surveys: The oldest of survey services, the boundary survey is a tool used to set out property lines for new construction or to settle property line disputes on existing properties.  The boundary survey will show the beginning and ending points of the property.  Specifically, the survey will show buildings, walls, fences, utilities and all other significant features within five feet of the property lines.
Land Easement: An easement allows the property owner to grant the right to use a portion of land without assuming liability for that portion and without giving up ownership. An easement can be granted for landscaping, ingress and egress, or any other purpose that suits the parties involved. The surveyor provides a legal description of the purpose and location of the easement, along with its drawing.

Apart from all this, California Land Surveyors also cover other aspects of surveying like Prevailing Setback, Property Line Adjustment, Record of Survey, Roof Height Certification, Roof Plan, Slope Analysis, Staking etc.

Working with a professional land surveyor will provide you with informative information that will help you make important decisions on your construction or financial project.

When you starting any project related to real estate, make sure you seek out the professional opinion of a state licensed land surveyor.

www.survtechsolutions.com Welcome to Land Surveying 101 with Amy Vitale! SurvTech Solutions Tampa Land surveyors presents a new web series featuring some of the more common types of surveying services and their descriptions. The series is hosted by model, actress, professional wrestling diva, The Italian Princess Amy Vitale. For more information on Amy, visit http

The Different Types of Land Surveys

By Charles Iner

While most people think of land surveys in the most basic sense, the drawing of the boundaries of a property, in actuality there are many varied and different ways of surveying that service many different industries. Property surveys are a large part of the business, but there are also surveys and surveyors that service the construction industry, the environmental sector, and many others. The kinds of surveys that are conducted would surprise most people, and some things that you might think are surveys aren’t surveys at all. Instead of the standard two-dimensional measuring from one point to another, today’s surveys not only measure the land, but also the air and water above and below us.

The most common and well-known surveys conducted today are boundary surveys, mortgage surveys, and topographic surveys. An ALTA survey, which is actually a shortened title for ATLA/ACSM, combines elements of all three, with a set of standards put forth jointly by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. ALTA surveys are most commonly used for commercial properties; by having a universal standard, companies can assure themselves of the level of thoroughness and be confident when the results are guaranteed by an ALTA survey.

Boundary Surveys are exactly what the name describes: a survey to establish the true boundaries of a given property. Through previously recorded markers and the establishment of new landmarks, a surveyor will establish the true boundaries of a property and then mark the corners and lines of the plot, using markers such as iron rods, pipes or concrete monuments in the ground, or nails set in concrete or asphalt. In the past, piles of stones, trees or other, less permanent markers were used, which led to confusion when the markers were either destroyed or changed.

Mortgage Surveys are simple surveys that, for the most part, determine land boundaries and building locations. They are usually required by title companies and lending institutions when they provide financing to show that there are no structures encroaching on the property and that any structures on the property meet current zoning and building codes. It is important to ensure that you are getting an officially licensed mortgage survey performed by a licensed land surveyor, and not a mortgage inspection, which is a substandard survey which does not adhere to any set standards and is not regulated or accepted as an official land survey.

Topographic Surveys are land surveys which locate natural and man-made features. For example, buildings, improvements, fences, elevations, land contours, trees and streams. These are then measured for their elevation on a particular piece of land, and presented as contour lines on a plot. Topographical surveys are sometimes required by the government. Engineers and architects also use topographical surveys to aid in the design of improvements or developments on a site.

One of the largest and most rapidly growing segments of land surveys are in the construction industry. Surveys are crucial tools from inception and planning, to actual construction and maintenance afterwards. Most construction surveys fall under the discipline of civil engineering, which may require additional degrees and certifications in order to conduct. All construction projects begin with the Plot Plan or Site Plan, which sets out the plan for the entire project, including all existing and proposed conditions on a given site. As-Built Surveys are conducted several times during a construction project to verify for local and state boards that the work authorized was completed to the specifications set on the plot plan. Foundation Surveys are a type of as-built survey which collects the positional data on a foundation that has been poured and is now cured. Foundation surveys are done to ensure that the foundation has both been constructed in the proper location and has been built in the proper manner according to the plan.

For existing structures, a Deformation Survey determines if a structure or object is changing shape or moving. By the taking of three-dimensional positions on specific points on an object, then letting a period of time pass before retaking and measuring the points, a determination of whether a structure is moving can be made.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, land surveyors are also responsible for performing Hydrographic and Bathymetric Surveys. Hydrographic surveys collect data relating to any body of water, and the data collected may include the water depth, bottom contours, the direction of the current, observing and recording high water marks and water levels, as well as location of fixed objects and landmarks for navigational purposes. They can also be conducted to gather information for engineering or resource management purposes, such as hydro power plants. Bathymetric surveys deal exclusively underwater, and map the seabed profile.

Geodetic surveys fall under both the land and water category, as they map out the shoreline. Thomas Jefferson commissioned a geodetic survey in 1807 as the Survey of the Coast. Progress on the survey moved slowly at first, as they did not even have the proper instruments to perform the survey until 1815. It still exists today as the National Geodetic Survey and its responsibilities now include the interior lands of the United States as well as its coasts.

Wetlands Delineation and Location Surveys belong in a category all on their own; they are performed when construction work that is being planned on or near a site containing defined wetlands. Local, state, or federal regulations vary, but wetlands are usually classified as areas that are completely inundated with water more than two weeks during the growing season. Boundaries of wetlands are determined by observing the soil colors, vegetation, erosion patterns or scour marks, hydrology, and morphology of the land in question. Data is then collected on the locations of the placed flags and a plan is drawn to reference the boundary of the wetlands and compare it to the proposed boundaries of the surrounding plots or parcels of land and the construction work proposed within.

While there are many more forms of land surveys, to list them all and their attributes would result in a very long article. The options presented above are simply the most common forms of land surveys, and the ones that the general public is most likely to encounter.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Residential land surveys are a specialty.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Different-Types-of-Land-Surveys&id=1949289

Ludlow Engineering located just South of Utah County can meet all of your survey needs in Central Utah and Utah County.

The latest technology and GPS units are used to survey property in the Utah area.

Land surveys, alta surveys, boundary surveys, topography surveys , cell tower surveys are performed by Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying.

Call for a quote today.  Call 435.623.0897

Property Survey and Boundary Surveys in Springville, Utah.

Needing to know where your property is located?  Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying since 1975 has been finding lines of private and public properties.  Dedicated in providing the highest service, Ludlow continues today to be the survey leader in the Utah area.  Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying performs all kinds of surveys: property surveys, boundary surveys, ALTA surveys, As-built surveys and much. much more.  Call Now at 435.623.0897 for an estimate today.

Needing a property survey or boundary survey in Payson, Utah?  Look no further than Ludlow Engineering, located only 15 minutes South of Payson.  Ludlow Engineering and Land Surveying has been surveying in the Utah County area since 1975.  They know what you need and know that saving time and money is critical in anyone’s budget.

Ludlow Engineering specialized in boundary surveys, ALTA surveys, property surveys and much much more.

Call now at 1-435-623-0897 for an estimate today.  (435) 623-0897.