How do I know where the edge of my property starts?

I'll say this - with the attitude you've got I wouldn't have you as a client.

You don't trust people, but you come here wanting free advice from people that that do this for a living... and live and breathe it...

I'm just going to leave that right there...

Good luck... you're gonna need it.

Carl

Here is the reality you are facing.

That sketch is nothing more than a sketch. It is not even close to qualifying as a survey. It does not show the existence of any kind of monuments (iron bars, railroad spikes, car axles, cotton spindles, stones) at any location. Therefore, it provides you nothing of value towards knowing where any property line is located. The single clue to location is that the south line of Lot 28 appears to align with the center line of the street approaching from the left. That may or may not be anywhere close to the actual location of the driving surface that you call the street normally.

Depending on the age of the subdivision that created Lots 10 and 28 it is possible that no original monuments were ever set and you are in what we call a paper subdivision.

You have two choices. Do absolutely nothing. Or, contact a licensed boundary surveyor. You can get referrals from a number of sources. Title insurance companies, lenders of all kinds, real estate agents, appraisers and others working routinely with surveyors can offer suggested contacts. Do not call the State society of land surveyors and ask for a referral as they only know a fraction of possible surveyors in any one area.

You have made it clear you do not trust people. My suggestion would then be to hire one surveyor to do what you need. Then, once he is done, hire a second surveyor with no connection to the first to check the work of the first one. It's only money.

How can you trust the real estate agent? They might lead you to believe you are buying more than you actually are. How can you trust the title company? They might get complacent themselves.
How can you trust the complete strangers on this board?
It would be very foolish to buy any property without a current survey (with corners staked) or without title insurance.
By the way, the pavement is not the property line.

Hire a licensed land surveyor to do the work. It's in his own best interest to do the job right, because by saying "close enough", he'll be risking his license and liability for damages if you rely on his incorrect location. That said, if you go with the lowball offers, you're much more likely to find someone who isn't licensed who is trying to do side work.

It isn't a trust thing.

Professional Surveyors across this Nation spend many years in the licensing process. After licensure, we build companies and reputations, most of which will live long past our departure from this earth. As a professional surveyor, one that takes his obligation to protect the interest of the public very seriously, find it extremely difficult to keep my words civil in response to your post.

The best advice I can give you is to "interview" a local surveyor so that you fine one you trust.

Your first step should probably be to consult a professional to help you with your ISSUES.

Well Stevie, looks like you have ONLY two options:

(1) Hire a Professional Registered Land Surveyor whose license rests solely on doing the job right; B-)

OR

(2) Pound sand. :-O

Get it? Got it? Good!! 😉

You need to hire a surveyor to figure that out. I doubt you'd be able to do it on your own. As far as the trust thing, that is why we are licensed. We have to do the work properly and failure to do so could result in loss of said license. Get 3-5 prices if that makes you feel better.

I would assume the bottom 202.39 starts right at the street since it lines up with street. Which is good to know, but really doesn't help me determine where the furthest left side starts.

That would be a very bad assumption.

Ironic asking a bunch of strangers to help you by starting out by stating you don't trust people, but you trust a realtor? I guess they don't really count as people? :-O

Jeff Lucas is always talking about how our profession is often seen in a negative way at times by the public. Talking might not be the right word for Jeff Lucas for those that have seen him talk, screaming, yelling, preaching and pleading might be better words. I would say some of the responses seem to back up Jeff Lucas's claim.

To the OP Steve, the quality of surveys and land surveyors does vary. I don't think your mistrust is out of line. I wish I had a great way for you to find a land surveyor you can trust. You can ask around but people often don't know the difference. I'll just say if its important to know where your boundaries are, hire a person licensed in your state and like so many other things in life, cheap isn't usually the best.

Some of you need to give the guy a break. He's just acknowledging the fact that the world is full of people who will take your money for incompetent work, and he just doesn't want that to happen to himself. If his only exposure to the world of service providers was this site what would he see but surveyors whining daily about the incompetence of other surveyors, and surveyors who can't agree on what color the sky is. He says he'll likely hire a surveyor but obviously needs help choosing one. Kudos to those that recognized that and made helpful suggestions.

Get quotes from 3 surveyors who routinely work in your area. Give them copies of the deed and any other official documents. And the sketch, which doesn't look official but does show what you were represented in the sale - that could be significant in some discrepancy situations.

Make sure it is clear what the scope of work is to be - in addition to the finding or setting monuments at the corners that will be required by law, you probably want to have them set some additional line stakes. If recording the survey is optional in your state, specify that you want it done.

Don't take the low bid, or any bid from someone who is not familiar with your area.

For Deleted User

I feel much the same way you do, about mistrusting surveyors. So, I'm already on the same page that you are.

One thing that can help you is to STOP using bottom dollar surveyors.

They are known for "jacking" with (Fill in the blank there) a deed, generating a plat, and leaving you feeling like your cow bred with an infertile bull.

So, interview a number of surveyors, and find one that will:

1.) mark it plainly for you.

2.) stand behind his locations, and numbers

3.) likes to tell the truth.

I have filed complaints against other surveyors.

Bob Zickwolf (X-PLS 661) lost his license due to me. In all fairness, Bob was a good guy, he got older, and tried to keep pace with 1970's prices, and crews, and his work deteriorated. We were friends, (Bob has since passed away) I used to give him my chain saw mix, when I found him out of gas on the side of the road.

Gary Whitfield (X-PLS 882) lost his license due to me. He really needed to NEVER get a license. His work was pretty bad. I'm talking plain with you here, on a public forum.

There IS a problem in our profession.

Dig you out a good surveyor, and sail on.

Interview them,

My favorite saying is: "You don't lie to me, I don't lie to you, and we both have to eat."

There is NO end to the level of accuracy you can have... I mean, actual accuracy out to 3 places is probably not needed, but you need something like less than 0.05-0.07' on all mons, and a plat reflecting such.

Your animosity is appreciated. I have it too.

Nate

If you are going to hire a survey, you need to do so BEFORE the closing.
Tell the realtor that you want to hold up the closing until that happens. Yea, the realtor will try any way possible to get it closed as soon as possible, but you are in charge not him.

> I'm in the process of closing on a piece of land. It is 1.8 acres and they are giving me all of the documents, but the land is not staked.
>
> The realtor sent me this which is great. (I would assume all of the masurements are in feet. Just struck me as odd only one measurment had the foot mark behind it.
>
>> (not the entire document obviously)
>
> My question is how do I know the edge of the property? I want to determine where the furthest left piece of my land starts.
>
> I would assume the bottom 202.39 starts right at the street since it lines up with street. Which is good to know, but really doesn't help me determine where the furthest left side starts.
>
> Before I get buried in posts telling me to hire a person to stake it. I most likely will end up doing that. But here is my problem. I don't trust people. I don't trust that they will do qualty work / care to do a job right. I have a strong feeling people get complacent or thin kthey know it all and when marking my property will say "close enough".
>
> And I'm not trying to insult those of you who do this for a living. I just don't trust people.
>
> So I want as much information going in as possible.
>
> Thanks for reading.

Steve, Steven,

Welcome to the board and thank you for posting your situation and question.:good: Naturally many other posters here will get their hair up from your post:pissed: but don't worry about that.B-) Mistrust in the unknown is a Natural human factor.:-/ Surveyors are constantly trying to change our image a bit to the public and hopefully coming here you will leave with some good information to ask the professionals you consult for your situation leaving you with a little bit more trust.

First off It really helps us if we know what local area your are from, State would be good for starters. Many States have laws that require previously completed surveys and plats to be filed in a public record at your local courthouse or county recorder. ETC.:bye: Many Don't though and then it helps to find surveyors that have previously performed work in your particular area. This really helps with putting together the big picture and making sure your property boundaries coincide with all of your adjacent landowners.

If you came to me and asked me to survey your property. I would do some preliminary research in the area to provide your a written quote of fee's and services to be performed. This would be signed if you agreed to the terms and we would move forward.
Beyond the preliminary research if not already done I would, make sure I review all of the adjacent deeds and previous surveys. Make sure that the Deed records mathematically fit together. I would make sure to get a copy of the Title report provided by the title company to see if there are separate recorded easements, or other previously recorded documents that may affect your boundaries or rights on your property. (Looks like there is an easement in favor of others running across the SW corner of the property.) I would review how the 34th Street was established and check with the controlling jurisdiction to see what records they have on it. It appears from the face of the Small Lot Survey you provided that your property consists of Lot 28 and Lot 10 or a portion of both. I would see where these Lot's came from in the records and see if controlling monuments were set. I would then survey the boundary limits on the ground to see where lines of possession are (Fences, landscaping, structures, etc.) and verify their location to the Title. All of this information together goes into my establishing the property boundary. I would then Set permanent monuments at the boundary corners if not already set and file a Permanent Record of Survey with the county for all future generations to follow.

Good luck with your future work and congrats on your new property purchase.

:good: :good: :good:

B-) B-) :good: :whistle: :good: :good:

You could phone a few surveyors and get prices to do the job. Some of them will be much cheaper than others. There is a good chance that the low bidders will do the job "quick and dirty", as you fear. But there is no assurance that the higher bidders will do any better.

I suggest you call a number of surveyors in your area and discuss the work you want done - specifically avoiding any mention of price. Discuss the process that is to be followed and the final product you will receive. Once you have completed this and identified the ones you trust, then and only then ask for prices for the agreed scope of services.

Often people hire the low bidder and then complain that they don't like what they get. Duh.

These are professional services. It's not brain surgery or rocket science, but it's not the sort of thing that can be explained in an internet post either. It's a combination of evidence collected from various sources, some of record and some on the ground. A lot of research goes into a boundary survey. Recovering, monumenting, and documenting a boundary is a lot like a lawyer investigating, putting a case together, and presenting it in court. There is no "EASY" button to push.

🙂 😛 :good: :good: :good: