Determine Accurate Property Lines with Land & Property Surveys

Land surveying is a critical component in designcreated by professional land surveyors conform
and construction in almost every aspect of realto the ALTA standards, showing the property
estate development. As the first step in reallines, visible utilities, buildings, and features such as
estate development process, it is the job of adriveways, pools or play courts
Land Surveyor to collect all the information- Architectural Surveys: When planning for
pertaining to an area. This includes marking theimprovements to a property such as a building
boundaries of land, creating maps and legalremodel or addition, adding a swimming pool, a
descriptions, and planning and organizing thenew patio or landscaping, an architectural survey
development of the property. A surveyor createsis often necessary to obtain proper permits. An
a stable foundation of useful information on whicharchitectural survey will show property lines, all
people can build their homes and communities.visible utilities, buildings, walls and fences,
On the residential side, land surveyors are typicallyhardscape and landscape.
hired when buying or selling properties, or making- Boundary Surveys: The oldest of survey
home improvements such as adding a fence,services, the boundary survey is a tool used to
improving landscaping, adding a pool or moreset out property lines for new construction or to
square footage to a property.   Commercially,settle property line disputes on existing
land surveyors are utilized for subdivisionproperties.  The boundary survey will show the
requests, and mortgage financing.  When lookingbeginning and ending points of the property. 
to start a build, improve an existing build orSpecifically, the survey will show buildings, walls,
refinance a property a land surveyor should befences, utilities and all other significant features
one of your first hires.within five feet of the property lines.
There are some highly proficient Land Surveyors- Land Easement: An easement allows the
in Los Angeles, California who offer a wide rangeproperty owner to grant the right to use a
of surveying services.  Before contacting one, itportion of land without assuming liability for that
is important to understand the types of surveyingportion and without giving up ownership. An
services that are available, so when you make aeasement can be granted for landscaping, ingress
surveyor inquiry you know what to ask for.  Theand egress, or any other purpose that suits the
following are commonly requested surveyingparties involved. The surveyor provides a legal
services:description of the purpose and location of the
Aerial Topographic Surveys: Very large propertieseasement, along with its drawing.
or those with rugged/rough terrain may requireApart from all this, California Land Surveyors also
an aerial survey to map the topography. Somecover other aspects of surveying like Prevailing
cities require maps to show an entire area'sSetback, Property Line Adjustment, Record of
topography, even beyond property lines, in orderSurvey, Roof Height Certification, Roof Plan, Slope
to determine buildable area, environmental impact,Analysis, Staking etc.
and building setbacks.Working with a professional land surveyor will
- A.L.T.A. (American Land & Title Association)provide you with informative information that will
Survey: When refinancing or purchasing propertieshelp you make important decisions on your
valued in excess of $1,000,000, title companies willconstruction or financial project.
require individuals to purchase title insurance. TheWhen you starting any project related to real
purpose of an ALTA survey is to inform theestate, make sure you seek out the professional
buyer of what they are getting, and the insureropinion of a state licensed land surveyor.
of what they are insuring. The survey maps