What Will a Land Surveyor do for Me?

Question: Will a Land Surveyor tell me what I own?
Answer: No. It is you responsibility to furnish the Surveyor with a legal description, current title report, or policy concerning the parcel that you want surveyed. He/she will then locate the property on the ground, marking the corners with physical monuments, and provide you with a record of survey map showing the results of the survey. He/she will also disclose the areas that are in conflict so that the title company and/or attorney can resolve any problems.

Question: Will I be shown if there are any encroachments on the property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Land Surveyor to show encroachments in the area of concern to you.

Question: Will I be shown if there are any easements on my property?
Answer: Yes, if you instruct the Surveyor to do so, and provide a current title report or title policy to use for this purpose. He/she will supply a map, plat, or exhibit showing this information.

Question: How will I be shown what has been surveyed?
Answer: Corners of the property will be marked with stakes, pipes, or other such monuments with the Professional Land Surveyor's license number indicated thereon. The corners on the parcel will be pointed out to you, if requested. A record of survey or corner record will be filed when these monuments are set, indicating dimensions of property lines, monuments, and other relative data as required by the Land Surveyors Act, the client, or others.

Question: Should I explain why I want a survey made?
Answer: Yes. If the Surveyor knows why you want a survey, he/she can recommend the type of survey you need, and how much detail should be shown on the map, plat, or exhibit.

Question: Why are there conflicting boundary and easement lines?
Answer: It is often true that boundary/easement line disputes, gaps, and overlaps are a result of legal descriptions which were originally written and recorded without the benefit of the services of a competent Land Surveyor. It is important to have the lines properly described and surveyed, if necessary, when property or easement lines are created or changed. Any newly created or adjusted boundary line requires processing through the local government agency as required by the Subdivision Map Act and local ordinance.