6 essential tips to choose the right licensed land surveyor
- 03:24
- By Kiara Waylen
- 0 Comments
In most states and countries, a survey record is a legal document. There are hundreds of vital documents needed for most of the real estate transactions and therefore you should hire a land surveyor. A licensed land surveyor’s report is considered a legal document that is required for purchasing or selling real estate, especially vacant land. He would be the only person to legally undertake a survey with a certified plan. You must check whether the report made by a licensed land surveyor contains essential information about the property including the property’s legal descriptions, physical address and dimensions of the property and the buildings that surround it. It is also vital to note here that surveys prepared by unlicensed surveyors are not legally acceptable and will not be accepted as evidence in case of a dispute.
The following are a few tips that will help you choose the right licensed land surveyor for yourself:
- Check the status
A licensed land surveyor’s license is typically issued by the state boards and should have the status clearly mentioned. Make sure you check the surveyor’s status and if also if there are any outstanding complaints on them. This will help you eliminate the unlicensed surveyor all together.
- Check their qualifications
The task of a land surveyor is complex and required a lot of skill of dealing with the surveying of the land, laws, and regulations. All these mean that the tasks, to be done efficiently, would require a licensed surveyor. Making sure that you are only using a licensed surveyor becomes imperative.
- Arrange an interview with your land surveyor
Always ask the surveyor if they have handled any projects like yours in the past. Provide the surveyor with a detailed description of your location, size of land and the expected type of survey to get a detailed estimate of cost from him. Ask the land surveyor about the expected timeline for your project as well. Check if they have any references you can follow up with and ask, they have enough experience working in the targeted area. A local surveyor who has worked in the area previously would be aware of the problems and issues of the area and would know how to deal with them.
- Seek recommendations
Ask your friends, family and acquaintances including your real estate agent if they could recommend an experienced land surveyor for your project. Although checking with real –estate agents or loan officers may result in some useful information but relying on them fully is not advisable as these people might be biased towards a contractor. Do your due diligence before choosing the right licensed land surveyor for yourself.
- Do not underestimate the value provided
It is natural to focus and be concerned about the cost of hiring a licensed land surveyor. However, it is equally important to understand and reflect on the value they provide to the whole transaction amount. A surveyor’s experience, reputation and reliable service is extremely important and hiring a licensed surveyor for handling all your property survey work can be cost effective, but in the long run, you can expect good results in output.
- Request clarifications
It is important for you to research everything about the surveyor you’ve hired. Ask your licensed land surveyor to clarify how his billing system works. Clarify how they handle the cost of commute and if the survey would require any hourly costs. Also check if he needs additional charges based on climatic conditions or the location distance.
Be confident in your decision once you have done your proper research and this will help you choose the right licensed land surveyor for yourself. Follow the tips given in this article and you should never get it wrong with selecting the right surveyor ever.
