The Role of a Land Surveyor in Purchasing a Property

A land surveyor is one who using a combinationAs said by the New York State Law, the surveys
of experience and education comprehends andmade only by the licensed and registered New
define the characteristics of land. Who isYork State Land Surveyors are lawful. Only those
authorized to perform and represent a physicalland surveyors who are registered have the
retracing of the legal history of that piece of land.mixture of land surveying education and
A land surveyor is a design expert who is licensedexperience in the field which is needed for
by the State of New York. A New York licensedlicensure in the New York State, and just the
land surveyor can use applied mathematics andlicensed and registered land surveyors have
various technical and research abilities to measurepassed the licensure exam in New York State.
and plot: the measurements of any part of theThis is a three-part examination, and consists of
Earth's surface, natural and artificial structures, thetwo national exams totaling fourteen hours, and a
directions and lengths of boundary lines, and thetwo-hour New York State specific examination.
curve of the Earth's surface as well. It isArchitects, lawyers, professional engineers, Real
important to note that only licensed landEstate agents, title company agents and
surveyors are allowed to determine boundary linelandscape architects are not permitted to make
measurements in the state of New York. Landboundary line determinations. This rule is
surveyors are also familiar with zoning regulations,implemented even though a visual examination of
building regulations, health policies, planninga property by a Real Estate agent, a landowner, a
regulations, wetland regulations and general landcontractor or title company representative is not
use codes.sufficient to settle the legal boundary of the said
Land surveyors might offer a lot of differentproperty.
services which include:It is important that you get in touch with a land
• Proposed Plot Plans • Globalsurveyor before buying a property because
Positioning System Surveys • Subdivision• Only a licensed land surveyor can
Design and Platting • Boundary Surveysprovide a map of his survey to define what you
• Environmental Impact Statementshave bought • He can conclude whether
• Building Location and Foundationtrees, buildings, fences, gardens, building
Location Surveys • Wetland Delineationoverhangs, sidewalks, driveways, etc actually lie
and Location • Topographic Surveyson your property • He can decide if your
• Geodetic Control Surveys •deed correctly describes your property, or he
Percolation Tests and Soil Descriptions •could provide an updated deed • A
Land Development Plans • Mining Planssurvey given by the seller may be old and not
• Monitoring of Structural Settling ofdescribe changes made to the property since
Buildings and Other Structures •then. A surveyor can place permanent
Construction and Transportation Stakingmonuments on the corners of your property to
• Mitigation Plans • Utility andmake you aware of property lines always.
Pipeline Surveys