As a homeowner, you learn about many specific needs that you may have not considered before. One of these is land surveying.

Some of the common reasons you may need to hire a land surveyor or property surveyor:

• You are buying or selling property. Knowing the boundaries of any land you buy or sell is important.
• You want to check the accuracy of your deed. A surveyor can help you verify that the details in your deed are correct.
• You are building a new house or addition. Knowing where sewage or utility lines exist on your land is important before starting construction.
• You want to add a fence at your property line. Before you build a fence, knowing exactly where it should go is crucial.
• You have a conflict with a neighbor about where your land ends and theirs begins. A disagreement with a neighbor about encroaching on each other’s space or responsibilities for specific areas of land may require input from a surveyor

Findlaw also points out these specific certifications which you need a surveyor to help you get:

• An environmental certification
• A zoning opinion letter
• A floodplain classification from the government

A surveyor makes measurements to determine the boundaries of the property. Surveyors can also determine the location of important features on land, such as water and sewage systems. They also prepare plots, maps, and reports and present their findings to clients and government agencies. When necessary, surveyors also testify in court regarding their work and findings.

The rules around whether you need a licensed surveyor for a project or document differ from state to state and province to province, so check with your local government officials to ensure you know what is required.

Once you have determined you need a surveyor, check with family and friends to see if they have recommendations. You can also ask your contractor or real estate agent, as they will likely have other clients who have used surveyors.

When you talk to a potential surveyor, ask about other projects they have done similar to yours, and for previous clients you can speak to about their work.

Make sure your surveyor knows why you are having the survey done. The equipment and size of the team they’ll bring could differ based on the needed output. The necessary work product will also affect the price of the project.

Always get a written contract with a property surveyor. Make sure it includes:

• The project that needs to be completed and the specific services you need
• The schedule to get the work done
• The specifics of the completed product (specific government documents, information for your bank, etc.)
• The final cost and terms of payment

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