Why do we need boundary lines

Last Name. Your Email. To sell a portion of your property. To start major home improvements. To know where your property is. Text Color. Grid Layout. Give us a call 1. Boundaries also become important when considering who has legal access across land, known as a Right of Way. If you have a shared driveway, it may be that one person owns some or all of the driveway and others simply have rights of way to drive over this. Depending on the legal documents that establish a right of way there may be maintenance obligations and costs apportioned to various owners.

When in rural settings such driveways may simply be a gravel track and costs of maintaining these may become high. Skip to main content The importance of knowing your boundaries.

By Anna Bensemann Nov 06, Talk to us before committing to your development Land is an important asset and discussions with neighbours over where the boundary lies between properties can occasionally be problematic. This is particularly relevant if your land contains trees, good grazing land, streams, rivers or a coastal margin.

A boundary survey is used to determine the exact location of property boundaries and corners of a piece of land. A boundary survey may be used to settle legal disputes or locate easements or for personal records. A location is similar to a boundary survey, but it also includes site improvements. The location survey shows the location and size of improvements as well as the distance measurements between them and the property lines.

Property owners often use a location survey for zoning permits. A subdivision survey is used to divide a parcel of land into multiple lots for a subdivision. A subdivision survey is used to create subdivision plats and must be filed in the land records with the recorder's office.

A site-plan survey is used to plan the development of site improvements. The proposed building, or other improvement, is drawn inside of a boundary survey.

A site-planning survey is normally used when applying for building permits. A construction survey involves the surveyor staking out the location of planned structures and improvements. The surveyor does this to show construction workers where to build and the distances between planned improvements. Topographical surveys lay out the location of natural and man-made features on a property.

These features may include buildings, fences, utilities, ponds, rivers, trees, and elevations. A topographic survey is often used by engineers and architects for planning site improvements. The cost for a land survey varies depending on the type of survey and the size and shape of the property. The cost of a property survey will also vary based on the professional surveyor's travel time. A land survey's costs will be higher for properties with more acreage or more corners.

ALTA surveys have a higher average cost because of the extra work that goes into researching documents and providing more details. Keep in mind that these costs are averages throughout the US. The cost of a residential survey can vary greatly depending on the particular market and what public records are available. That number can be even higher depending on the complexity of the survey. A certified copy of a land survey can often be found at the building department's office or in the official records at the land recorder's office.

In some jurisdictions, you may also be able to find the survey recorded with the local tax assessor's office. A title company can also be a resource for tracking down a survey. Title insurance companies typically require an ALTA survey before they issue title insurance, so they will likely have a copy on file.

Land surveying is a very technical process with no room for error. Since the accuracy of a property survey is so important, each state sets certain requirements for who can conduct a survey. Each state has its own licensing requirements for land surveyors, but state surveyor licensing typically involves:. Most states also have a requirement for continued education for a surveyor to maintain their license.

To receive the necessary education to become a surveyor, most people will earn a bachelor's degree in surveying, mapping, or geomatics. Even beyond licensing requirements, most companies will require surveyors to have a minimum amount of experience before they are allowed to conduct a survey themselves and certify it.

Simply put, a land survey will document exactly what your property is and where it's located. Without defining property lines, a bank doesn't know what it's lending on, and a construction crew won't know where to start building. Make sure your land survey is up to date and shows any new improvements or property features.

For a land survey to be beneficial, it must be accurate. Our team of analysts agrees. These 10 real estate plays are the best ways to invest in real estate right now.