A Guide On The Work Of Land Surveyors
Do you plan to develop your commercial or residential plot? If you do, the services of a land surveyor will come in handy. Read this excerpt to learn why you require a land surveyor and the considerations to make when hiring the professional.
What Is The Work Of The Land Surveyor?
The land surveyor can assist with the following:
Determining Land Use
Your land surveyor is an essential source of information on how you can or cannot use the land. Typically, they will inform you about the land use regulations that could affect your property. For example, the building code could prohibit you from exceeding a specified number of storeys. Moreover, zoning regulations could determine how you will use the property. The surveyor will also give insights that could improve the property's functionality. For example, you could propose an orientation that faces the sun to improve energy efficiency. Besides, they will inform you how the slope and soil will affect the construction works and the structural integrity of the development.
Establishing Property Boundaries
An oversight developers make is relying on their neighbour's boundaries when building properties. However, this could be pretty costly in the future. For instance, you might find out that part of the property is on the neighbour's plot or that the neighbour occupies a significant section of the property. Your land surveyor will check land maps and use surveying equipment to determine the exact boundaries of your land.
Subdivision
Some developers might decide to subdivide their property into several lots. If this is your case, the surveyor will subdivide the property. Subdivision is not as easy as most people presume. There are numerous requirements that property owners must meet before a subdivision becomes approved. For example, the property should have proper drainage and essential amenities. Besides, the plots must not be below the minimum plot size.
Hiring A Land Surveyor
These tips will help you choose a land surveyor:
- Your surveyor must be licenced to practice in your locality. Otherwise, they might not understand the zoning regulations, building code, and subdivision laws.
- Assess the surveyor's services. For example, some surveying firms offer comprehensive services, including installing essential amenities such as power and water when creating subdivisions.
- Does the surveyor have professional liability insurance? It protects you from claims and legal issues caused by errors and omissions.
- Some of the surveying work, such as subdivisions, can be time-intensive. Therefore, inquire about the surveyor's availability.
A surveyor will inform you about land use, establish property boundaries and create a subdivision. Follow the recommended guidelines when hiring a surveyor.