How Much Should You Pay for a Land Survey of Your Property?
Land surveys are necessary for various reasons. If you are buying property, a survey helps you get a clear view of where your boundary line lies for development purposes. Outlining the property boundary can save you from future arguments with your neighbour and encroachment claims. Also, a survey is also essential when subdividing property for sale. That said, land surveys cost money, and as a property owner, you should know how much this procedure will cost you. Below are some of the primary factors that determine the cost of a survey.
Shape and size of the property
The major determinants of your survey pricing are the shape and size of the property. A large piece of land will take longer to survey as compared to a small one, and this will translate into increased costs. Similarly, land that is irregularly shaped may require more time and research to ensure accurate measurements and definition of the boundary line. However, if your piece of land has a rectangular or square shape, it will be fairly easy to survey, and this means that you will pay less for the procedure.
Nature of records
Surveyors use records on previous transactions, surveys, and divisions to conduct an accurate survey of a property. The easier these records are to access, and the more organized and accurate they are, the faster your surveyor will be able to complete the exercise. However, if the documents associated with previous ownership, transactions and surveys are vague, missing, incomplete or invalid, the surveyor will be faced with a challenge to dig for the truth. This will require more time and resources, and it may translate to increased costs.
Property location and features
Your property's location determines how easily accessible it is for the surveyor and any equipment they need to complete the procedure. Property that's located in a mountainous terrain or steep slope may present accessibility challenges to the surveyor, and this will increase the survey costs.
Also, if the property has features such as trees, fences, and occupational lines, the surveyor may take longer to outline the accurate boundary lines. Additionally, the presence of shrubs and plants may hinder the project, and the surveyor may have to remove wild plants to clearly mark your boundary lines. However, landscaping trees and plants should not be affected during the exercise.
These are the main factors that determine the cost of survey besides the fixed surveyor rates. However, you can talk to a few construction surveyor professionals for rate comparison so that you can get affordable survey services.