ALTA ACSM Survey Can Be Helpful in Fire Risk Assessment and Environmental Screenings

Plenty of factors should be considered when you are investing in commercial property, and safety is among them. You want to make sure that your land is suitable for your structure and that there will be no problems that will affect the structure’s integrity and the safety of people and the environment in the long run. An ALTA ACSM survey can help in identifying the properties of your land and potential issues that might affect it. Using ALTA ACSM standards, environmental and land surveyors will work together to determine how your property can affect the environment, and conversely, how the environment will affect your project.

ALTA/ACSM surveys are accredited land title surveys that must be conducted only by approved land surveying companies in the United States. They are specifically done for commercial purposes, and they follow a uniform set of ALTA ACSM survey standards for specific purposes, like construction. So, you need to make sure that you are hiring seasoned and credible environmental and land surveyors who have an excellent and proven track record in meeting the survey standards set by authorized institutions and the government.

An ALTA ACSM land title survey is also a due diligence survey that can provide information on zoning laws, height requirements, and setback requirements. Environmental surveyors can go the extra mile to investigate land that may have been affected by hazardous conditions. Likewise, they can assess the property to determine its risk of fires. In case there is damage or a hazard, they can assist in planning for reclamation and rehabilitation. Land can be at risk of contamination of it was used or is currently being utilized for industrial waste or waste disposal.

Only an ALTA ACSM survey conducted by environmental surveyors can accurately identify the current condition of your land. Apart from helping you identify fire and environmental risk, surveyors can apply their knowledge in ALTA ACSM survey standards to provide information on easements and boundaries, show ownership areas, encroachments, and encumbrances, and apply further suggestions for improving the land.

ALTA ACSM Survey – The Most Widely Used and Accepted Land Survey

The land survey is a critical process for developers, builders, landscapers, real estate buyers, and property owners, as it reveals important information on the property before it is developed or improved. There are different types of surveying methods used by discerning surveyors, and some are specific to the type of property to be surveyed. For commercial property, they follow ALTA ACSM standards to conduct a well-esteemed land survey that goes beyond merely identifying the property lines and boundaries. With an ALTA/ACSM survey, you can find out more about the land, such as easements, encroachments, encumbrances, land improvements, property features, roads, zoning classification, and other important information that may affect your decision-making.

ALTA ACSM survey standards are considered ‘gold’ in the industry, as they meet the highest surveying standards that are recognized in the United States and in individual states. These were set by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, which is now the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Conventional boundary surveys can only reveal a limited amount of information that may be impractical to the needs of a commercial property project. The survey is also treated as ‘due diligence’, and it is typically commissioned by discerning clients to gain information on setback requirements, county zoning laws, and property height requirements.

With incomplete survey results and details, you could risk building or developing a structure that can have legal problems down the line, such as encroachments. You could potentially save yourself from all the trouble and costly mistakes by working with a reputable survey firm that is known for providing a reliable and accurate ALTA ACSM survey. The land surveyors should follow ALTA ACSM standards, too.

You could be paying a bit more on the ALTA ACSM survey compared to traditional land surveying techniques for contouring and mapping. But rest assured, the best ALTA ACSM survey standards will be applied and provide the most accurate, precise, and detailed information you will need to make an informed decision.