How to Get a Property Survey

When you buy a piece of property, the bank and possibly your local government require a property survey to transfer the deed. But this isn't the only reason to get your property surveyed. If the neighbor is disputing you over where the property line is or if you're building an addition, this requires a property survey. Here's how to obtain a property survey of your piece of the American dream.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Find a licensed, reputable surveyor. Most civil engineering firms have a licensed surveyor on staff who will be able to stamp the final drawings. They also will have the experience of what documents need to go to what offices as well.

2. Provide the surveyor all the property line information and any old surveys you may have and ask her to focus on the disputed area if necessary.

3. Ask your surveyor about scheduling and be clear about the timeframe in which it must be completed. For instance, if you have a court date set, then you must have the survey done in short order.

4. Instruct the surveyor not to remove any existing iron pins or monuments. Iron pins are steel rods set into the ground by previous surveyors and mark where someone at some point thought the property line ended. Monuments are concrete markers set into the ground, which sometimes have an iron pin set into the concrete. Some surveyors don't know that these should be kept in the ground as evidence of an existing boundary. If they're taken out, they cannot be replaced.

5. Obtain a copy of your city, borough or township's local ordinance. This gives you an idea of what types of property disputes matter and what types don't.

Tips & Warnings

• Property surveys can vary widely in price.

• Check with the engineering company or surveyor that did the survey of the property in the past. They may have much of the research done already from the previous work and be able to do the survey for a reasonable rate. Remember to ask for references and check them as well.

• No legal transaction, such as a closing on a house, should be done without representation. Contact your local bar association for a lawyer in your area that deals with property transfers to aid you in your transaction.