I show improvements on all my surveys, it takes a little more time but really enhances the plat.
It gives a much clearer picture of how the boundaries lie relative to improvements.
I also show a list of all the documents and the recording data used to determine the boundaries of the survey.
Just wondering how many other Surveyors do this.
Bill, I do as you do. Improvements are standard fare around here.
Licensed Land Surveyor
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate New York
Location of improvements, utilities, easements, adjoining owners and deed recordings, recorded or visible incumberances, bearing source, lsbel all found or set monuments and tie to controling monuments has always been expected to be clearly shown on drawings.
I show improvements that indicate possession and those that aid in recovering lines and corners. We almost codified that years back but a few loud guys killed it.
Nope, unless it is required by the client. Boundaries are the name of the game. The rest of it is incidental. I can think of many jobs where adding all of that would more than triple the invoice for no advantage to the client whatsoever.
Different strokes for different folks. If you have clientele who believe they need that on every survey, that's great for you, so long as they are willing to pay. Eighteen improvements in one corner of a quarter section are not important to someone wanting to build a fence in the correct place nearly a half mile away at the closest.
They are called ALTAs.
Saying there is a wall here is not following in the footsteps. If the record deed says to the center or certain side of a wall, or so far off a building, then it is a monument and is shown. Sometimes a wall or fence is shown to indicate a visual clue that we believe we are in the vicinity of occupation, but without cause and sufficient research we cannot raise the dignity of such evidence.
Paul in PA
Only improvements that were used to establish the boundary, and possibly encroachments are shown on boundary surveys. Unless your doing an ALTA there are very few clients who are interested in both a real boundary survey and a map of their improvements.
Mapping improvements is time consuming and requires little proffesional judgment.
aliquot, post: 410345, member: 2486 wrote: Mapping improvements is time consuming and requires little proffesional judgment.
I think the the professional judgement is that the time was taken to include the improvements. A picture is worth a thousand words. These improvements are not only helpful to the owner, but to other Surveyors who are attempting to recover your corners. That's the same way I feel about references on plats. It assists title companies, attorneys and other Surveyors to get a clearer picture of survey.
Holy Cow, post: 410296, member: 50 wrote: I can think of many jobs where adding all of that would more than triple the invoice
That's true for most boundary surveys I do, and is the driving force behind the client choosing a boundary survey over an ALTA survey.
I try to add relevant items.
"They are called ALTAs"
Have known this to be a standard Title survey.
Mortgage company requires knowledge of any tangible property and any relevant incumberance affecting the property and included in the real estate transaction to be shown on the drawing.
If there is any default on a loan with the whole farm as collateral, they are not going to simply take the new addition to the house.
I think we may be seeing different opinions based largely on different regional practices. In my area of northern California, a boundary survey in connection with a residential real property sale is rare. It's a little more common with ag property sales, but still not the norm. Commercial property sales, on the other hand, involve an ALTA survey more often than not.
Current boundary to-do list:
New rural tract, structures not needed: 12
New urban tract, structures needed: 2
Existing rural tract, structures not needed: 2
One new urban tract where the structure is needed qualifies because the existing structure appears to be very close to where that specific boundary must be placed. The client doesn't care to know where the building is relative to the line. I'm the one who cares.
The other new urban tract has existing outer boundaries but the total tract must be sliced into three new tracts based on the actual location of the three old houses already located there. Again, the client only wants to be able to see the divide lines are in a reasonable location relative to the existing houses. There is no expectation that I will show them on the plat. But, I know the City will want to know before allowing the lot split. The client had no idea that approval by the City was needed. Thus, I'm labeled a trouble maker before I even get started.
