Property survey-cost and choosing a surveyor

[empress of self-improvement]

Ok. DH and I are getting a deck put on the house. Only six years later. We need a plot plat survey thing. Anyone know how one chooses a surveyor and a ballpark of how much they would cost? I know jack-all about this.

[tskeeter]

Do you need a new survey so that you can locate lot lines, or simply a copy of the plat survey?  If it is simply a certified copy, you should be able to get that at minimal cost from the engineering firm that did the original plat survey for your lot.  We got one with our closing paperwork.  The name of the engineering firm that did the survey is on the plot map.

If you don’t have a plot map or drawing, you might be able to find out who the engineering firm was by looking at online county records.  Where we live, the county assessor’s website is linked to county maps, etc., that will let a homeowner get back to the plat maps for the neighborhood and identify the engineering firm that did the survey work.

[haapai]

I'll be looking forward to the answer.  My fence is rotting away and needs to be replaced and I have reason to suspect that the existing fence was placed directly on the property line instead of properly offset. 

[haapai]

Can you explain how to translate a plat map or a plot survey onto the ground?  I'm looking around my exterior and baffled as to what to use as a landmark.  I'm sure that the curbs have changed configuration since the lot was last platted. 

I have a 50-foot measuring tape, a compass and a volunteer to hold the end of the tape, but I don't know where they should stand. 

[muttleynfelix]

Regis I'm sure has opinions on this. 😉

It sounds like you have a newer home. Can you find out who did final platting on the subdivision if it is newish? That would be the first person. If your state uses survey caps, usually those have a license number you can look up online.

Those are going to be your best option for someone who knows the area.

If those don't pan out, look up a local company that does primarily surveying. Larger companies are much more expensive as are companies that have surveying as support for engineering.

[Deleted]

When we needed a survey two years ago because there was a possibility that our fence encroached, I asked several realtor friends in the neighborhood who they used.  I called several; one responded. They did an awesome job and the price was around $400

[empress of self-improvement]

I went to Town Hall and they didn't have one on record so we need to get one done. Anything else about it, I haven't got a clue. Town Hall did give me a list so I guess I'll start calling them tomorrow.

[Regis]

muttleynfelix is on the right track.  Get a copy of the subdivision plat from the county recorder's office and see who did it.  They'll typically have more information than any other surveyor.  If that fails, call the state land surveyor's association and ask them for a list of surveyors in your area that do residential surveying.  Many larger companies (mine included) don't do residential work.

Fee is based on a lot of variables regarding the requirements for the plot plan - and they can vary even from one jurisdiction to another.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

We need a survey done, too, to rein in a neighbor who is encroaching on our property. I’d looked up some names on Angie’s List a few years ago but never pursued it and can’t temember who I liked most beyond that he is based out of Dedham? Quincy? Cohasset? I wasguedtimating about $1500 for the survey and granite markers on a straightforward rectangular 1/3 of an acre.

Let me know who you use. If I can find the guy’s name I wanted i’ll Let you know.

[bean29]

Are there any markers on the corners of your lot? We have a steel pipe on 3 corners I think. I know for sure back corner is marked by a pipe. DH also spray painted a tree. We had ours from closing. I also have subdivision layout. Ask neighbors that built their houses, have been there longest if they have their survey so that you can get the name of the original survey company. This is info that was passes to and from us at closing. Usually the title company asks if you have it when selling-so read your title package/check your closing papers.

[nittanycheme]

I am not in a subdivision, but when you read my deed it talks about iron pipes on the corners (house built in 1958).  I actually was easily able to find 2 of the iron pipes (they were in corner garden beds that were already established when I moved in so they were still partially above ground).  For a while, I wasn't able to find the other 2, although I didn't try really hard either.  I thought they were gone since they were in the "lawn" side of my lot.  My neighbors had a surveyor come in, and they marked with a stake on one of the corners where I couldn't find the iron pipe.  I dug around a bit, and found the iron pipe submerged in the ground about an inch, so now I know 3 of the four corners. I haven't bothered to find the last one - its along the road and I get along with that neighbor.  If I really want to find it, I could triangulate or just use a metal detector.  I can actually see some of the iron pipes marking my neighbors boundaries near the street.  So, if your deed talks about pipes, you could just use a metal detector to locate them.  

[chiver78]

I had my yard surveyed before I put in the fence. I used a company out of N Falmouth and they were $450 to survey and put in two cornerstones. if any of you Massholes want the contact info, let me know

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2019 10:52:40 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I had my yard surveyed before I put in the fence. I used a company out of N Falmouth and they were $450 to survey and put in two cornerstones. if any of you Massholes want the contact info, let me know

[empress of self-improvement]

Do you really think a company from N Falmouth is going to haul ass all the way up to Wilmington? I highly doubt it. GRG's person would probably be closer.

I found one iron poley thing in the ground. It is right on a fence line. Whose fence, who the hell knows? She paid for it and it went in exactly where the old one was so I'm not worked up. We just need the plan thingy for the deck. I know jack-all about anything else. And what is a plat?

[chiver78]

Jun 12, 2019 16:21:36 GMT -5 @donethat said:

Jun 12, 2019 10:52:40 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I had my yard surveyed before I put in the fence. I used a company out of N Falmouth and they were $450 to survey and put in two cornerstones. if any of you Massholes want the contact info, let me know

....?

[chiver78]

Jun 12, 2019 16:31:15 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Do you really think a company from N Falmouth is going to haul ass all the way up to Wilmington? I highly doubt it. GRG's person would probably be closer.

I found one iron poley thing in the ground. It is right on a fence line. Whose fence, who the hell knows? She paid for it and it went in exactly where the old one was so I'm not worked up. We just need the plan thingy for the deck. I know jack-all about anything else. And what is a plat?

idk, maybe? but the option is there. 🤷‍♀️

[Regis]

Jun 12, 2019 16:31:15 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Do you really think a company from N Falmouth is going to haul ass all the way up to Wilmington? I highly doubt it. GRG's person would probably be closer.

I found one iron poley thing in the ground. It is right on a fence line. Whose fence, who the hell knows? She paid for it and it went in exactly where the old one was so I'm not worked up. We just need the plan thingy for the deck. I know jack-all about anything else. And what is a plat?

A plat is a drawing.  While the requirements are different in different locations, you probably need a drawing showing the location of the existing improvements and the proposed deck in relationship to your boundary lines.

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2019 19:13:31 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jun 12, 2019 16:21:36 GMT -5 @donethat said:

....?

I simply hadn't heard that term before and found it wonderfully hilarious.  Maybe some humor is sort of regional

[chiver78]

Jun 13, 2019 17:04:21 GMT -5 @donethat said:

Jun 12, 2019 19:13:31 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

....?

I simply hadn't heard that term before and found it wonderfully hilarious.  Maybe some humor is sort of regional

ha, wait, Massholes? I had to go back and try to figure out what term might have been the issue. we wear that label proudly around here. 😎

I can't remember where you're from, if I ever knew. I've lived in New England my entire life. all but 6mo in college has been in MA.

[Deleted]

For my land they hammered 1" PVC pipe into each corner. Years later the kids fessed up to using them for baseball bats and forgetting to put them back. Ah, kids. 

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2019 19:07:30 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jun 13, 2019 17:04:21 GMT -5 @donethat said:

I simply hadn't heard that term before and found it wonderfully hilarious.  Maybe some humor is sort of regional

ha, wait, Massholes? I had to go back and try to figure out what term might have been the issue. we wear that label proudly around here. 😎

I can't remember where you're from, if I ever knew. I've lived in New England my entire life. all but 6mo in college has been in MA.

I'm currently from Texas and they call us a lot of things, most of which I can't use on this forum   Born in Chicago and lived in Florida, Virginia, Mexico City, and various parts of Texas since the 60's.  

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2019 22:53:35 GMT -5 @rockhounder said:

For my land they hammered 1" PVC pipe into each corner. Years later the kids fessed up to using them for baseball bats and forgetting to put them back. Ah, kids. 

They pound 1 foot lengths of rebar in the ground here-easy to find with a metal detector and hard to dig out to mess with your neighbor.

[Regis]

Jun 14, 2019 11:03:08 GMT -5 @donethat said:

Jun 13, 2019 22:53:35 GMT -5 @rockhounder said:

For my land they hammered 1" PVC pipe into each corner. Years later the kids fessed up to using them for baseball bats and forgetting to put them back. Ah, kids. 

They pound 1 foot lengths of rebar in the ground here-easy to find with a metal detector and hard to dig out to mess with your neighbor.

Apparently we're twice as good here in Indiana.  We use 2-foot rebars.  

[Deleted]

Jun 14, 2019 16:08:41 GMT -5 Regis said:

Jun 14, 2019 11:03:08 GMT -5 @donethat said:

They pound 1 foot lengths of rebar in the ground here-easy to find with a metal detector and hard to dig out to mess with your neighbor.

Apparently we're twice as good here in Indiana.  We use 2-foot rebars.  

Maybe so, or maybe South Texas clay soil is twice as hard to get that rebar out of.  Especially in August after a drought when it resembles concrete 

[nittanycheme]

How detailed does your drawing need to be?  I'm in a suburban/rural township in PA, and for our building permits we can do a hand drawing where you provide your land boundaries, the various measurements including setbacks, dimensions, etc. and where you want your new/replacement construction to be.  A lot of places here aren't part of the new "developments" so they don't necessarily require a plat plan.  If you have it, you can attach it, but if not they are flexible.  The lot sizes are in the county maps, so they really only need to confirm your building sizes/locations on lots if they have question.    As farmland is being sold off, we are getting more developments, but not nearly as many as other locations.