Topographic Surveys – Determines Life, Strength and Value of Your Property

A topographic survey is typically conducted during the construction or developmental project’s planning phase. It is primarily used to determine and map the contours of existing features and the ground of your property to create a base map before any structure can be built on it. It may showcase the boundary lines and easements on the property, too. However, it can unearth more information about your property, including the value, strength, and the life of the land. This way, topographic surveys are able to provide a comprehensive view of the land’s geographical condition.

Significant topographic surveys begin by establishing the vertical and horizontal control to serve as the framework. Surveyors will make sure that there is enough elevation and horizontal location of ground points. This way, they can obtain sufficient data for plotting when preparing the map. Man-made and natural features will be located during the survey, too, especially if you require them. Surveyors will compute the angles, distances, elevations, and volumes of earthwork before drawing the topographic maps.

The survey can reveal different details about your property to determine its strength, life, and value. Measurements on the dimensions, breadth, and length of your land, as well as its curves, elevation, and height must be accurate, as every aspect surveyed will affect the contouring and the map. The outcome of topographic surveys can help you determine the placement or configuration of cultural and natural features of the land, too.

The applications of topographic surveys can range from any type of structure that will be built on land, including buildings, roads, bridges, and commercial structures. The surveys are conducted below and above ground level, and they will examine materials like the walkways, soil density, trees, and man-made elements found on the property, such as utility poles, wells, walls, and manholes. Every feature found on the land can affect the outcome of topographic surveys.

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Significance of Residential Property Survey

Part of responsible home ownership is knowing everything about your property, including its legal description, precise measurements, where it starts, and where it ends. This knowledge makes you a smarter and responsible homeowner than other property owners. However, most people hire a professional surveyor only when they encounter common property boundary issues, when in fact, a residential property survey must be conducted, even before constructing anything on a parcel of land. Here are few points that can help you understand the significance of a residential property survey:

• It is not merely a measurement of property boundaries – A residential property survey will not merely calculate the boundaries of your land. It is a complex procedure that involves research and analysis of the land before determining the property's plot and boundaries. Professional land surveyors look up previous surveys conducted on your land too, since these may influence current land conclusions.

• In can be conducted for other reasons, too – Residential property surveys are typically ordered before building any property or in the case of dubious lands, but they can be conducted for other purposes like property line staking, foundation location surveys, lot splits, as-built surveys, and house site plans. Seasoned land surveyors use state-of-the-art equipment and innovative technology to take precise measurements of your property and determine other issues that may be related to your land.

• Get advice on the differences between existing and previous land records and surveys – Land surveyors will measure and determine every location several times before getting the average to determine the accurate location of the points on a map. Likewise, they will advise you if they find any changes or differences in the current survey and the previous land survey. An example of such as situation is when a neighbor has encroached on your property or has built a fence within your boundary.

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Significance of ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys

An ALTA survey is a type of land title survey product that meets the needs of title insurers in order to remove standard survey exceptions from the current/existing title policy. The American Land Title Association is the main proponent of this particular land survey product, and it aims to provide both buyer and lender with relevant information concerning the present and future use of the land in question as well as the different restrictions and encumbrances, which can –potentially affect the property. The information contained in an ALTA land survey allows lenders and buyers to evaluate the property and at the same time analyze all the potential benefits and risks of owning it.

Officially, the stated purpose of this particular survey is to remove from the property’s title insurance policy, the “survey exception language,” which is supposed to benefit both the owner and the lender’s title insurance coverage. In simpler terms, this is referred to as providing an extended coverage.

The extent that one can deviate from these standards depends on the title insurer’s willingness to provide the coverage required by the lender or the buyer for the property transaction. ALTA surveys are commonly used as underwriting tools on succeeding property transactions. An ALTA survey also provides relevant information to interested parties, answering concerns and questions in an official and unbiased manner.

Generally, an ALTA survey provides information including:

• Surveyor findings about the proper and actual boundaries of the property.

• Observed easements and any easements and exceptions stated in the title commitment.

• Significant observations about the property, which may include utilities, improvements, and public access; and

• Specific information relating to zoning, topography, flood hazard concerns, and parking configurations.

People who plan on selling properties may also use ALTA surveys for protection against potential claims from buyers or lenders after the conveyance of the property title.