If you are new at purchasing large properties, you might not
be familiar with surveying. As you begin
to make final decisions on pieces of land, your real estate representative may
mention types of land development surveys offered by Chris Nelson & Associates that either will be required or you
should consider. It’s a good idea to educate
yourself as much as possible about real estate before you buy, so here is a
quick overview of a few common surveys.
ALTA
There is a reason the ALTA survey is known as the “Cadillac
of surveys.” The standards for ALTA are
determined by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on
Surveying and Mapping, and its boundary information also includes data on
improvements, rights-of-way, and other elements that impact land
ownership. ALTA is the source of
information that insurers use for titles of commercial development interests.
Topographic
Development on a piece of land requires precise information
about its points of elevation.
Architects and builders will need to know about slopes, hills, and depressions
before they begin their work.
Topographic surveys gather data on these features and present them as
contour lines. Professionals can read the
contour lines to understand where the peaks and valleys are on your property
and plan work around them accordingly.
Boundary
Boundary services establish the corners of your
property. This may sound extremely
simple, but in fact these measurements need to be so precise that they must be
performed by professionals like Chris Nelson who specialize in land development surveys. You definitely want a boundary survey
established before you purchase a tract of land.
Flood Elevation
If your property is situated in an identified Special Flood
Hazard Area as determined by FEMA, you need to make sure that you have an
official Elevation Certificate. The
flood elevation survey determines whether or not the buildings on your property
can be certified as properly elevated.
Having this certification is essential for obtaining flood insurance.
Learning about land development surveys can be an
interesting diversion, and it will help you learn a lot more about any tracts
of land that interest you. Before you
buy any property, ask Chris Nelson & Associates about the surveys associated with the purchase. It may even help you make your final real
estate decisions.
