Boundary surveying refers to a type of land survey in which the exact measurements and locations of the land property line are determined to serve as the legal basis for marking the boundaries or limits of a parcel of land.
Title documents and property deeds are not enough to prove your right to sell or use an area of land. These deeds must be supported by a property demarcation survey that will indicate distances and monuments, and other particular details to duly and legally declare the property.
You may need to have a boundary survey made to your property if you are about to:
1. Buy or sell a plot of land.
2. Subdivide the property for residential or commercial adjudication.
3. Construct any kind of physical structures (buildings, house, etc).
4. Fence your property to prevent trespassing by others.
5. Mortgage your property to a credit institution.
A precise study of the limits is essential before starting any of these activities. It will help prevent many problems regarding the use of your land. Frustrations over impending laws are minimized and changes to construction plans are avoided.
The legal system bases good judgment about arguments involving land ownership on the data and reports generated through a boundary study. Therefore, disputes over land ownership and property division can be resolved through a thorough survey by a licensed surveyor. After a thorough inspection of the land in question, the delineation of property boundaries can be completed.
Other times a boundary survey is needed include determining if your property is in a floodplain, identifying encroaching structures on either your property or your neighbor’s, and to construct buildings on your lot. without affecting any of the easement lines such as drainage pipes. and the like.
The cost of a boundary study will depend on many factors. It is usually determined after an initial inspection has been initiated in which the details of all necessary work have already been established and documents such as deeds and previous surveys have been collected. Characteristics of the land such as size, terrain, type of vegetation, etc. They are also studied to determine how much the owner should be charged for the services to be rendered by the surveyor.
The result of a standard limit study should include:
1. Monumentalization or marking of the corners of the property through the use of marked trees, iron pipes, wooden poles or flags.
2. A detailed written description of the property including building measurements, distances, and presence of water pipes, drainage systems, power lines, etc.
3. An accurate map or plan of the property.
4. A written report of the analytical methods used to determine the limits.
In some cases, these reports are recorded in the Registry of Deeds to meet state standards regarding the provision of a permanent and truthful record of a boundary survey conducted on your property. This will be your reference and insurance against illegal claims and disputes should they arise in the future.
