The Basics of Land Surveying

Posted on January 20, 2018 by RinggoldSurveyorJanuary 17, 2018

What is Land Surveying?

Land Surveying dates back to ancient history. Surveying is used for multiple projects. A survey is done to establish a specific location of a parcel of land along with its exact acreage. It is used to ascertain boundaries for defining an area of ownership and tax liability. It is also used to identify a piece of property by a written legal description or to provide a review of the accuracy of an existing description. Data from land surveying is of the utmost importance with regard to buying and selling land, and is also used to insure a clean and marketable title.

Other types of Land Surveying

There are many different kinds of surveys that can be performed. Boundary surveys are typically done for undeveloped land. This type of land surveying measures the actual physical extent of the property in question. Most surveys progress through the basic procedures regardless of the type being done. Any pertinent deeds, contracts, maps or other documents that contain a description of the property’s boundaries are located, studied and interpreted. A determination is made of what the actual property description is deemed to be, along with the locations of any physical evidence of the boundaries. This can be in the form of both natural and man-made monuments or markers that exist in the field. The property is then measured to establish the boundaries, not only using the appropriate existing monuments but with the creation and referencing of new markers where necessary. Measurements are accomplished using a total station and other land surveying tools. A total station measures both vertical and horizontal angles, as used in triangulation networks. After these steps are accomplished, the property description and plat are prepared.

Results of land surveying

Interpreting the results of a land survey is not as difficult as it may first seem. For instance, a property plat will usually contain a directional orientation which is typically indicated with an arrow pointing north. It will contain the bearing and distance of each boundary line, the property lines of other properties shown on the plat, and the names of adjacent property owners listed in the areas of their property. Corner monuments, along with the names of any natural monuments (such as “Smith’s Creek”, for example) or a brief description of any unnamed natural monuments (such as the “30-inch pine tree”) are on the plat. There is also a title block containing the property’s location and name of owner, the surveyor’s name, the date the survey was performed, the scale of the plat and any other relevant data.

“Only Transact with a licensed land surveyor for your land surveying needs”

If you need the services of a surveyor for your land surveying needs, ALWAYS be sure that you’re hiring an experienced, certified, and highly competent professional surveyor. You can find out if the surveyor is licensed by visiting the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing website.

What is ALTA Title Survey?

Posted on January 18, 2018 by RinggoldSurveyorJanuary 17, 2018

ALTA stands for American Land Title Association. ALTA Title Survey is actually similar to boundary or lot survey of a certain piece of land. However, an ALTA Title Survey has further requirements for the land surveyor as he executes the survey.
Most states have widely varying standards for surveying. Thus, ALTA Title Survey follows a national standard for lot surveying aimed to generate consistency regardless of the location of the survey. It is usually done on multi-family residential or commercial sites and when the owner and lender are from different state jurisdiction. But more often than not, it is prepared for commercial properties because it provides the information needed in order to insure the title to the land. Commercial developments may also require improvements to a high level that is also obtained through this survey.

ALTA Title Surveys are very complex and are commonly more costly than surveys following state standards because it takes more time and effort

Costs for such surveys could go up to 50% – 200% more than a similar boundary survey. It is also important to note that the more restrictive standard is followed in the survey if and when the state standard is more restrictive on a certain aspect than the ALTA standard. An ALTA Title Survey must show all data including boundary lines, main building location and all its improvements, location of ancillary buildings, rights-of-way, and easements or access rights by services such as water, telephone, gas lines, railway and other utilities. A helpful tip in outlining the scope of services of the land surveyor is to thoroughly go over the elements of “Table A – Optional Survey Responsibilities and Specifications”.
Before an ALTA Title Survey can be completed, there must be a current title commitment. This is where the land surveyor will refer for the legal description of the property and all legal encumbrances or exceptions. The areas of ownership, encumbrances, and improvements will be presented graphically including encroachments, if there is any.

All the affected parties; the buyer, seller, lender, and title insurance company must be indicated in the ALTA Title Survey certificate. The land surveyor and the title insurance company must closely work together in order to illustrate comprehensively all matters affecting the ownership of the land and improvements.

Requirements for an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey as detailed by the American Land Title Association, National Society of Professional Surveyors and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping is certainly met through an ALTA Title Survey.

If we can help you with an ALTA Title Survey in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Ringgold Land Surveying Land Surveying at (706) 222-3522 or fill out our contact form by clicking the link.

Warning: Survey Before You Build

Posted on January 14, 2018 by RinggoldSurveyorJanuary 17, 2018

The “Call Before You Dig” mantra is used by the ONE CALL SYSTEM community (or 811) where all of the underground utility companies have banded together to try to keep their utility mains from being damaged. This not only costs them money, but most times it also costs the person who is digging.

I want to start a mantra for the Land Surveying Community – “CALL BEFORE YOU BUILD.”

Call A Land Surveyor Before You Build

This 5,300-square-foot house along Ocean Ridge Boulevard North in the Ocean Hammock area of Flagler County was built on the wrong lot.

This story about a property line nightmare was published recently. Imagine that you have built your dream home (maybe not $700k worth) and you find you have built on the wrong lot. As Keystone Homes Vice President Richmond told the News-Journal. “It does happen, but it’s rare.”

Now the neighbor NOR the home buyer want to agree to a solution to help the builder (and surveyor) out. They want to weigh all of their options. Do you think one option is to sue everybody within a shotgun radius? This would be the typical course of action.

While this may be rare, the story does mention that this has happened eighteen (18) times within the last twenty (20) years or so. That’s too many.

More Frequent Property Line Story

What is WAY MORE frequent is that a portion of a home is built over a property line or a side setback line. I’ve seen dozens of examples of this. In EVERY instance, this is an expensive proposition for the land owner. There are relatively simple solutions to these after the fact, but the simple solution is usually not agreed to by your neighbor. Usually the offended neighbor sees dollar signs when this is discovered. First anger, then dollar signs. And rightly so. The decision not to have the property lines marked before adding ANY structure on your lot is ill-advised at best.

Cutting Building Costs in the Wrong Place

Survey of Property Line Problem

Of course, I DO lay some blame on the builders as well, be it a fencing company, a landscaping company, or a builder. These contractors should know that establishing the limits of construction is one of the very FIRST tasks that should be done. So, why don’t they do it? Money. We strive to save money, but sometimes a little money spent up front will save a LOT of money in the end. Again, I’ve seen this happen on lots of occasions on a land survey.

Now, to be fair, this builder DID call a land surveyor and the surveyor got it wrong. This does happen, but it is rare also. So, there is a lesson for us surveyors also. Mistakes happen, but you are also responsible for your actions, especially for your crews actions.

If you’re starting ANY type of building project on your property it is HIGHLY advisable to have a surveyor mark your property lines and any easements or setback lines that are near the planned construction site. Call a surveyor at Ringgold Land Surveying today at (706) 222-3522 or fill out a contact request.