| A Boundary Survey may be defined as the | | | | inspection to avoid problems such as |
| process of identifying, measuring, and confirming | | | | encroachments, zoning violations and the need for |
| the boundary lines of a piece of land. A Boundary | | | | flood insurance, but it does not determine |
| Survey is also expected to reveal the extent of | | | | whether the boundaries described in the deed are |
| any easements, such as a utility line easement | | | | correct. A clear title obviously means that the |
| crossing the subject property to a neighboring | | | | owner has a lawful right to sell the property. It |
| property or appurtenant like the right to cross | | | | does not however guarantee that the area |
| another property for access to a public road. | | | | measurement is correct. In addition, title insurance |
| A Boundary Survey should also report any | | | | policies do not insure the buyer against defects |
| encroachments. The use of a piece of land by an | | | | that would be discovered if a full boundary survey |
| individual other than the owner unaccompanied by | | | | had been preformed. |
| an authority to do so - is generally termed as | | | | The surveyor thoroughly examines the historical |
| encroachment. The neighbors might be | | | | records relating to the land he is about to survey |
| encroaching on the piece of land or vice verse. | | | | as also all lands adjoining it on all sides. Apart from |
| Either occurrence will be reflected in the Boundary | | | | the Registry of Deeds this research may also |
| Survey. In short, a boundary survey determines | | | | include the Registry of Probate, county |
| the property lines of a parcel of land described in | | | | commissioners' offices, town offices, historical |
| a deed. It will also indicate the extent of any | | | | associations and the department of transportation. |
| easements or encroachments and may show the | | | | The surveyor may also hold consultations with |
| limitations imposed on the property by state or | | | | prior owners and ad joiners. |
| local regulations. | | | | The surveyor does the necessary field work |
| Boundary, or cad-astral surveyors measure, | | | | after the research and it involves establishing a |
| mark, and map the boundary lines of land | | | | network of known points called a traverse. The |
| ownership. It is a Latin word to denote a public | | | | points are useful to search and locate existing |
| record or map for tax purposes. These | | | | monuments and other evidence of the boundaries. |
| surveyors trace deeds and other public records | | | | The results of the field work are then compared |
| to verify the measurements of a piece of | | | | with the research and the surveyor then |
| property for which the original survey could date | | | | coordinates all the information to arrive at a final |
| back to several years. Nearly every piece of | | | | finding about the boundaries. A second field trip |
| property has been surveyed in the United States. | | | | may be needed to set the new monuments. |
| A survey is required prior to buying, subdividing, | | | | Finally, the surveyor will draft a plan, prepare a |
| improving or building on land. Surveying the parcel | | | | legal description and submit a written report. |
| before these activities ensures avoidance of | | | | The actual cost of a boundary survey depends |
| future disputes, the expense and frustration of | | | | on many variables, some of which can be known |
| defending a lawsuit, moving a building, or resolving | | | | only after commencing the work. The size, |
| a boundary problem. | | | | terrain, vegetation, location and season influence |
| It is best not to confuse a mortgage inspection | | | | the cost. However, the surveyor will not know if |
| with a boundary survey. It is merely a surveyors | | | | deeded monuments are missing or if they conflict |
| opinion that the buildings and major improvements | | | | with the description until he goes well ahead into |
| seem to be located on the property described in | | | | the survey. |
| the deed. Many lending institutions require this | | | | |