Why Do I Need A Surveyor?

There are many reasons why a person or company might need the services of a professional land surveyor.  For example…

• Commonly, a buyer and/or seller will need a retracement survey of a piece of property for an accurate description and acreage of the property to be conveyed. 
• In some cases a financial institution will require an ALTA (American Land Title Association) survey of property where a great deal of money is at stake, because of the stringent standards of this type of suvey and the protection it affords.
• Sometimes a property owner will need a property line found and marked so a fence or other improvement can be built or so a setback line can be determined to allow a building to be sited within regulatory limits. 
• Sometimes a grading or construction company will want stakes set for construction so that they can be sure that they are building to the engineers’ plans and staying within the terms of their contract, preventing overages and protecting their bottom line.
•  Sometimes two owners may disagree over the location of a property line and a surveyor will be hired to perform a survey and render his professional opinion as to the proper location of the line given the available evidence, documentation and applicable laws and regulations.
•  Perhaps a property owner decides he wants to subdivide his property and hires a surveyor to not only measure and divide the land, but to assist in understanding and complying with a dizzying array of ordinances and laws regulating subdivision in that jurisdiction.

These are but a few examples.

 The North Carolina Society of Surveyors has created a pamphlet entitled “Facts you should know about having your land surveyed” as a public service that helps to answer some of the questions you might have.  You may access it here.  If we can help to answer any additional questions, let us know.