3 Reasons You Need To Find a Land Surveyor When You Buy a Home

You have probably seen a surveyor in the colorful jackets looking through equipment on the side of a road as you pass by, but do you know the highly trained individuals do much more than widen roads and locate utilities under city streets? When you buy a home, especially in the outskirts of town, you may be trusting land surveys that are very old because not all home sales were required to have a legal boundary description of the property upon sale for hundreds of years. To be safe, here are five reasons you need to hire a land surveyor when you buy a home.

1.Common Property Issues
Boundary lines, common driveways, and fences can all become locations of dissension when two parties disagree on the correct location or who has legal possession. Seeking the assistance of qualified Malibu land surveyors to establish the legal lines in question can quickly settle the issue before it becomes a legal battle. Before you purchase a house, know where the property lines are!

2. Easement Alley Problems
Alleys, roads, and empty lots next to the property you want to purchase can all become a problem if you don’t have an official boundary line certification notifying you of the legal lines of yours and the adjoining property. You also need to know all the conditions bound to your property, such as a neighbor’s right to drive across your yard to reach the street.

3. Home Improvement Troubles
Your Malibu land surveyors can certify that all improvements, repairs, and alterations to the home you are thinking about purchasing are not in any way in violation of restrictions, regulations, or zoning. This includes added decks, parking spaces, frontage buildups, or set-backs. Knowing your home complies with the law can save you a great deal of frustration and money in the future.

Before you buy a home, have a land survey done to protect yourself and your investment. You don’t have to disagree about property lines, easement issues, or improper buildings if you have the legal survey in hand.

Top Reasons for Getting a Professional Land Survey

There are several reasons why you might want to get a survey done of your property. Or you may be interested in getting a survey done for a property that you’re interested in purchasing. Whatever the reason, chances are you’re going to be glad that you got a professional land surveyor to provide the service so you can be assured you got the most accurate information possible. There have been so many technological advances with surveying equipment in the past few years that you can get incredibly detailed information. Professional surveys are highly data-oriented, incredibly detailed and can get completed faster than ever before.

Property Lines
There’s a good possibility that when you bought your home you inherited existing fencing. But how can you be sure that the fence was built on the property line? You might not think that a few inches matter, but they can. A few inches for the length of your property can result in increased property value. Or, it can also be a liability if there are trees or tree branches located in that space. A professional land surveyor will measure with absolute precision so you can know the exact measurements of your property.

Land Development
One of the best reasons to get a professional land surveyor is if you’re trying to build a new development on a non-developed piece of property. There are several local, regional and state building and development codes that may prevent you from building in the way you hoped. It’s important to know the exact elevations and land contours so you can build in the most environmentally sensitive manner and comply with all applicable regulations.

Utility Lines
It’s always a good idea to know where the utility lines are on your property. It’s easier than you think to crack a water pipe while digging a hole for a tree in your backyard. And you definitely don’t want to hit a gas line. A survey will provide a permanent record of all the utilities on your property.

History Proves That Land Surveyors Are Necessary

The work of a land surveyor has proved to be an integral part of property development for a very, very long time. In fact, evidence of land surveying has been found at the pyramids during their construction in Egypt thousands of years ago. In the past and now in modern times, the construction of homes, businesses, and even cities depends on surveying to determine vital components – such as defining property borderlines – for example. Today, for individuals who are interested in buying land, it is critical to have the plot surveyed. Below is one of the main reasons why it is very important for a surveyor – such as a Malibu land surveyor – to evaluate a plot of land.

Identifying and Protecting Property Borders
Property borders are a crucial aspect of the work of a land surveyor. If an individual is planning to purchase a piece of land in the beautiful community of Malibu, California for instance, a Malibu land surveyor can provide helpful advice about the plot. This may include answering questions from a buyer about what he or she might choose to do with the space, like dividing the land into multiple sections, for example.

The opportunities that come with owning property are endless. A Malibu land surveyor can assist with the process of ensuring that whatever an owner desires for the land can be accomplished.

Why You Need To Have an ALTA Survey

Topographical maps have been essential for building projects for many years. The maps show the various boundaries of administrative areas and roadways along with changes in elevations and where certain features are such as water. ALTA surveys take topographic maps a step further to take into account items impacting land ownership.

Reading the Map

At first glance, a topographical map may be difficult to read. The contour lines and colors are meaningless to the uninformed. Each item has a specific meaning and representation. Since 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey is the responsible agency for map creation with a variety of scales available. The first thing you need to know before you can read a map is the scale. The colors are far simpler with blue representing water, aerial photography updated information is purple, vegetation is green and red or gray represent densely built-up areas. Additional features use a combination of lines and colors to portray certain features such as campgrounds or trails.

Use of Lines

Contour lines are a part of any topographical map and ALTA surveys are no different. Elevation is represented by brown lines. Shorter vertical distances between lines mean less object separation. The steepness of the landscape shows in the horizontal distance. The contour levels may vary from 10 to 100 feet depending on the topography of the location. Mountains and hills show up as concentric circles.

Purpose of Surveys

Surveys and maps are necessary for building projects such as roads and highways. They also are necessary for completing title surveys necessary for home ownership. The minimum standards of the ALTA/ACSM surveys are necessary to meet the requirements to insure the title of the property. A commercial project must have a title commitment before the survey can be conducted.

Many commercial loans require completion of ALTA surveys for the title insurance. Each survey is specific to the title company, buyer, lender and seller with their information right on the survey. The survey shows encumbrances, ownership areas and improvements along with any encroachments.

The Latest Changes Affecting Land Surveys

Technology advances have changed the nature of land development including how a Malibu land survey is conducted. The techniques used to survey change to accommodate the new technology and changes in regulations affecting the industry. Here are the latest changes affecting the surveying industry.

3D Technology

Creating a survey in 3D is now possible thanks to new scanning and modeling technologies. The machines may have been around for years, but they were not widely used because of their high costs. 3D modeling is now an affordable option for many surveyors allowing them to take advantage of the high-tech tools. As the machines have dropped in price, regulatory bodies are now seeing this as part of the process rather than as a nice extra. More surveyors are incorporating them as part of their business for safer and more profitable projects for their clients.

Data Systems

With better technology comes greater amounts of data available for interpretation. 3D modeling and drones provide more accurate data, but that means there’s more to keep track of as well. Project managers simply don’t have time to sort through all that information without the help of an effective land surveyor. End-to-end data solutions offer project managers a way to easily keep track of all that additional data and use it effectively.

Drone Data

Drones are not only for the military and recreation. Surveyors are now using them to get accurate pictures from above. Instead of walking around the entire property snapping photos, a drone creates a video of everything. The video can be paused, re-watched, zoomed in and even have stills taken out. The time-saving devices are especially helpful for high elevations, water features and dense forestation. Like 3D technology, drones are now a cost-effective option for most surveyors for quicker project turnaround.

Using an experienced surveyor like Chris Nelson & Associates to complete our Malibu land survey ensures the development project has the best start. With all the technology available, getting a quality land surveyor that helps you project plan efficiently is easier than ever.

Why You Need a Topographic Survey in Malibu

Expanding into new areas gives builders an opportunity to tame the land. However, without a Malibu topographic survey, that land cannot be properly developed. Governmental agencies, engineers and architects use the surveys for different reasons. The surveys are a jumping off point for any project.

Governmental Agencies

Zoning and construction regulations are enforced by governmental agencies by the use of topographic surveys. They can evaluate the current infrastructure and make revisions as necessary. They also grant environmental projects based on the surveys.

Engineers

A topographic survey reveals the elevation across the land’s surface. Engineers need to know land elevation to properly outfit a property. Sometimes dirt needs to be removed or brought in to achieve an appropriate grade to the land.

Architects

A 3D plot uses a topographic survey to create a design for a construction project. Architects needs to know land elevations and any features both natural and man-made on the project. The survey also shows property boundary lines and allows the architect to create a design to present to decision makers prior to construction.

A Malibu topographic survey is essential in the proper use and construction of the land. Knowing what is there ahead of time allows builders to account for the land saving time, money and hassle.

How Modern Technology is Changing Land Surveying

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in nearly all facets of society, and land surveying is no different. With the ability to get more and more accurate surveying information, it has become increasingly important that surveyors stay on the cutting edge of the field. If you’re seeking a land surveyor in Malibu, be sure to choose a company that utilizes the best technology the field has to offer.

Drones are Here and They’re Ready to Work

Using a drone to conduct a survey allows for a very thorough and detailed mapping of the area being surveyed. Drone technology is spreading quickly through the industry due to this ability, as it allows you to get more accurate results more easily. Some amateur drone enthusiasts have even begun offering survey services, however you still can’t beat the quality of a trained surveying professional using the latest technology.

3D Scanning and Modeling is The Next Level

Just as drones have become more easily attained in recent years, so too has the equipment required to take digital scans of areas. This allows for the construction of highly detailed models of the land by a land surveyor. Malibu’s best surveyors are already taking advantage of 3D scanning to give customers the best and most accurate representation of the plot possible.