Why you canƒ??t go to Wal-Mart or Home Depot for Land Surveying services.

Most potential clients are shocked to learn there is not a formula for determining how much it will cost to survey their land. In fact most will expect some kind of estimate on the telephone based on the amount of land they own or try to minimize the importance by declaring they only need one line surveyed. And of course they will often volunteer that the survey should be easy without any indication of where the property is located.

It may come as a surprise to some, but, in order to professionally survey land it requires (by law) solving an individual case or set of problems. Land Surveying is history, archaeology, mathematics and the law. Since most only see the Land Surveyor outside on the land looking through the telescope or digging for evidence of a boundary, it may seem there is little else involved in the process. The more important research into the back story of the land is not seen or perhaps not understood by the clients at first. More often than not, a client will learn to appreciate the value of a Land Surveyorƒ??s work afterward.

A survey begins with your deed and that deed is only a guide. The description of the land in your deed, even if precisely worded and mathematically correct is meaningless without points on the ground that relate to the description. Whether the points are original, undisturbed, and called for in the description can determine if valuable evidence or just something an unscrupulous neighbor placed there to throw the proverbial monkey wrench into the investigative process.

Many deeds have not had the benefit of a survey in very long time. They may be vaguely worded or contain anachronistic phrases. The intent may have been understood when the parcel was first conveyed, but, after many years the familiarity of the boundaries becomes lost. That is the intent that must be discovered by the Land Surveyor.

Thus, size does not matter, nor does the location in determining the fees. A surveyor must search for evidence that may be difficult to find in writings and on the ground. Discovery of the intent and uncovering original marks of the first conveyance on the land is the only way to come to any conclusion.