Jim in AZ, post: 393988, member: 249 wrote: Lesson?
Yes, lesson. A map of an improved urban property depicting land boundaries without the improvements shown is not something that will be commercially useful as a substitute for a survey made in connection with a sale of the property. So, the surveyor who declines to record a map showing all the improvements is doing himself or herself and some future purchaser a favor by improving the chances that a new survey will be made in connection with some future sale.
For typical lot surveys:
$95.00 for a "copy", no seal, no "current" date, no revisions.
$495.00 for update survey provided we performed the initial survey.
Very few surveys here show improvements except ALTA's. That's a good thing.
Kent McMillan, post: 393992, member: 3 wrote: Yes, lesson. A map of an improved urban property depicting land boundaries without the improvements shown is not something that will be commercially useful as a substitute for a survey made in connection with a sale of the property. So, the surveyor who declines to record a map showing all the improvements is doing himself or herself and some future purchaser a favor by improving the chances that a new survey will be made in connection with some future sale.
In my experience the owner almost always has a copy of the ALTA Survey map, and offers it to the buyer during their negotiations. In many cases the Title Co. has a copy also. I have no control over this, so I have no real reason to "hide" information. In fact, in many cases I find that they are more likely to approach me first if they find the old map and ask for an "update." Of course I have to educate them that I can't do an "update", and this usually works out into me getting the job. Map recordation is essentially free marketing... If the Title Co. wants to place the risk on the buyer by having them sign an indemnity stating that the old survey is acceptable that's their business not mine.
People ask me all the time, yesterday twice, for copies of surveys. I went through a phase where I had a fee associated with recovering the file and making the prints. That was a pain on several fronts. I just got rid of the full sized print making machine. Most of the maps that we have made over the years are recorded. I look up the recording number for the person and give them that with instructions as to how gain a copy from the County. Interestingly enough that copy will bear the watermark "unofficial document". There, I gave them something.
Trust is a factor, and gut feeling is another aspect as to if I cooperate with an individual. This cannot be taught or standardized.
Yesterday a gentleman came into my office with a horrible image of a map that I made a year ago. He had bought the property from my client and now wanted to subdivide. I politely explained that I wouldn't help him because of jurisdictional issues, but I gave him the recording number to enable him to get a better image from the county. That wasn't good enough. He wanted the CAD file because his wife plays with CAD:-) I took the opportunity to explain that everything that she needs to create to create a CAD file will be on the image that he gets from the county. I think I did the right thing.
Title survey for loan or transfer of property will show all improvements, easements and utilities.
Depending upon the mortgage company, they will accept the drawing for as many as 10yrs and as few as 3 months from the date of survey.
Title companies will accept it with the right disclaimers included for a fee, like forever.
Just direct them to the County Recorder's Office, where all of the surveys are public record?
Realtor: "Would you take a copy of ____ survey, and put a new date on it, and forward it to us?"
"Um, yes! be glad to. That will be 1295.00."
Realtor: "BUT YOU ALREADY GOT PAID TO SURVEY IT!"
"Yes, I did. If you sold a farm a year ago, and then you are selling it again this year, do you waive your commission?"
Realtor: No, but that is DIFFERENT. Selling is work.
Me, IF you waive your commission, for your work, I might consider waiving my fee, for being liable for the location of the survey pins. Is this for a charitable organization? Is this a worthy cause?"
Surveying is work too. My forehead sweats, My hand gets paid.
Nate
I just had a title company call me for a copy of a Improvement Location Report (ILR - here in NM) that we did almost a year ago. I asked him "So you are asking me to give you a job for free?" He was stunned and then stated "Well.. yes! I am trying to save them some money" I was shocked cause I know his fee didn't disappear. Still trying to decided what to do. Good business between us and the title company but DAMN! That is cash out of my pockets.
Scotland, post: 394060, member: 559 wrote: I just had a title company call me for a copy of a Improvement Location Report (ILR - here in NM) that we did almost a year ago. I asked him "So you are asking me to give you a job for free?" He was stunned and then stated "Well.. yes! I am trying to save them some money" I was shocked cause I know his fee didn't disappear. Still trying to decided what to do. Good business between us and the title company but DAMN! That is cash out of my pockets.
Tell him to save them money by paying for your services out of his fee. They save money, you get paid, and he gets to pay for his own charity.
Scotland, post: 394060, member: 559 wrote: I just had a title company call me for a copy of a Improvement Location Report (ILR - here in NM) that we did almost a year ago. I asked him "So you are asking me to give you a job for free?" He was stunned and then stated "Well.. yes! I am trying to save them some money" I was shocked cause I know his fee didn't disappear. Still trying to decided what to do. Good business between us and the title company but DAMN! That is cash out of my pockets.
He could save them even more money by making the existing title insurance policy transferable. That way they could avoid the expensive title insurance premium that has already been paid by the current owner after all...
