To the surveyor community:
I am posting on behalf of my 92-year-old mother. ?ÿI am new to this forum and am very grateful to post my question here! ?ÿ
My next door neighbor built a fence on their property that restricts access to my mother's property. ?ÿThe neighbor disagrees. ?ÿThe only way to settle the dispute is to get the property bounds (< 0.5 acre plot) officially surveyed. ?ÿThis property is in Cumberland County, North Carolina. ?ÿI have called over 10 surveyors and only 2 returned my call. ?ÿOne told me he was too busy and to call back in 3 months - I did call back but he did not return my call. ?ÿThe other surveyor was very nice and told me there is a severe surveyor shortage (this was back in September 2022) and he is no longer taking new non-commercial jobs. ?ÿI thought maybe there was some post-COVID back-orders that needed to be cleared and that I would just have to be patient. ?ÿHowever, it is now July and surveyors are still not returning my call.
I fear the neighbor may be planning more infringements on my mother's property. ?ÿI am posting here in the hope that someone has some light to shed on how I can get this job done ASAP. ?ÿAny advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Gwen Stritter
Consider calling an attorney on your mother's behalf and ask him to secure a surveyor. If there is a problem you may require the attorney's services anyway, plus the phone call from an attorney may sound more "secure" to the surveyors than an individual calling.
As a surveyor (not licensed in N.C.) I hope you get the service you need soon.
JAC
It is difficult times and Surveyors are busy for sure. I would expand my list of surveyors to call. Even outside the county as many work in multiple counties. I do hope you can get this resolved for sure. You might be able to pull a plat or deed from the courthouse and see who previously did the survey on the place or even the adjoiners which might make it easier for a Surveyor to get out and perform what is needed as they may have more knowledge of that particular lot already.
Contact the Survey Society and ask if they can send a message explaining your situation to their members on your behalf. contact link
@olemanriver makes a good point: do some research and find a surveyor that has worked in the area. That's probably the best place to start. Not many surveyors want to do residential boundaries anymore. Nobody wants to pay todays fees and we can make a lot more money with commercial and municipal projects.
Good Luck! @gstritter
@dougie And these and rural boundaries family divisions is why at my age i am wanting to get licensed. One of the main reasons i came back to land surveying side of the house. I just missed that work. Now will i make any money doing it probably could make a lot more going after fed work with my background and credentials but heck i like having fun these days lol.
If it ain't fun; I ain't doin it!
I like helping people, even if they don't like it...
And I like to be compensated.
It's tough to help someone, like Gwen's mom. She probably can't afford much and she might not like the results of a proper survey.
The best advice we can give clients in this situation; make friends with the neighbor. Win, lose, or draw; you will still live next to them; when it's all over. It will take months; probably years and the only ones that win are the attorney's.
You can't tell me what I can do on my own property, within reason. I can't tell you what to do either. If I don't like it, I'd move...
If you'll PM me with your contact information, I'll pass along the numbers of a couple of surveyors who may be able to help you.
@jacavell Thanks! I wanted to avoid using lawyers and the neighbor seems interested in resolving this with the just the results of the survey. But if that is the only way to get a surveyor...
@olemanriver Thanks for your reply! I did look for surveyors out of the county, but they were all booked up also. Love the idea of pulling the plat or deed from the courthouse. I will follow your advice.
@norm Thanks so much, Norm! But NC Society of Surveyors list was my source for which surveyors to call.
@dougie Thanks for replying! I had a feeling that surveyors don't like to do residential anymore. Is there a particular reason for that? Is it that it doesn't pay well? Or is it that bickering neighbors are a hassle to work with and that someone is bound to be unhappy with your results?
@dougie I hear what you are saying! Fortunately, the neighbor seems to just want to know where the property line is so that they can do what is right. We are all hoping that is the best resolution.
@murphy Looks like my level of membership doesn't allow DMs. Feel free to DM me, though.
