| In the nearly 25 years that I've been a land | | | | office and vehicles neat, organized, and |
| surveyor I've been contacted by thousands of | | | | professional in appearance? I'm not talking about |
| property owners looking to have their land | | | | extravagant or expensive (which you will be |
| surveyed. All too often they make their decisions | | | | paying for); just neat, organized, and professional. |
| based on only one factor, price; which often leads | | | | 7. Do they use modern equipment? |
| to dissatisfaction with their choice and sometimes | | | | - With all of the technological advancements |
| a less than quality survey, too. The following 10 | | | | you've seen in recent years, like in personal |
| tips are developed from my experience and will | | | | computers, the land surveying industry has seen |
| help you in hiring the right professional land | | | | incredible advancements in technologies and |
| surveyor to survey your land. | | | | techniques, also. We're now able to use a wide |
| 1. Is the person you're hiring licensed to perform | | | | range of technologies like Global Positioning |
| professional land surveying services? | | | | Systems (GPS), Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), |
| - Professional Land Surveyors are required to be | | | | Robotic Survey Systems, and Laser Scanning, to |
| licensed by the state they work or offer services | | | | name a few, that provide greater precision, |
| in. If you hire someone to survey your land that | | | | accuracy, and efficiencies. Hire a professional land |
| isn't qualified to legally survey in the state that | | | | surveyor that has and will invest in advanced |
| you live, you're throwing away your money and | | | | technologies to continually improve their work, |
| that person is breaking the law. If you have any | | | | which results in cost savings for you. You may |
| doubts contact your states licensing board to | | | | not know some of these tools or what they're |
| confirm that this individual is a licensed professional | | | | called, so ask if they use "AutoCAD Civil 3D", |
| land surveyor. | | | | "Robotic Total Stations" and "Survey Grade GPS", |
| 2. Does this person have Professional Liability | | | | for example. |
| Insurance? | | | | 8. Ask for a written contract and when you need |
| - This is insurance, like doctors' malpractice | | | | to pay? |
| insurance, which protects you if the professional | | | | - A professional land surveyor should be more |
| land surveyor makes a mistake. Land surveyors | | | | than willing to provide a written contract spelling |
| are no different than any other human being and | | | | out their services and what you will be charged. |
| they can make mistakes in their professional | | | | Also ask when payment for these professional |
| capacities. Would you see a doctor, or have | | | | land surveying services will become due. It's |
| surgery performed, knowing that the doctor or | | | | common for a professional land surveyor to |
| surgeon didn't have malpractice insurance? | | | | receive half of the total fee with the return of |
| 3. Does this person or firm have Workers | | | | the signed written contract and to bill the |
| Compensation Insurance? | | | | remainder when the work is completed. They |
| - Each state is different, and not all states may | | | | may accept credit cards, like MasterCard and |
| require this: but who is responsible if the person | | | | Visa. If you and your professional land surveyor |
| you hire, or their employees, get hurt or injured | | | | are clear about the scope of work, fees and |
| while surveying on your land? If this type of | | | | when payment is expected, everyone will be on |
| insurance is required in your state make sure that | | | | the same page. |
| the person or firm you hire to survey your land | | | | 9. What's being set at your property corners? |
| has this insurance and is in compliance with your | | | | - The reason you hire a professional land |
| state law. | | | | surveyor to survey your land is to determine the |
| 4. Does this person have experience in performing | | | | extents, or outline, of the property. If the |
| the services you require? | | | | property corners are not marked how will you |
| - Generally there aren't licensed specialties within | | | | know this? And, if it is not marked with |
| the land surveying profession, but make sure if | | | | permanent markers, likely to last for many years, |
| you hire a professional land surveyor to do, say, a | | | | what good is it? You should never accept wooden |
| boundary survey, they're experienced in boundary | | | | stakes as property markers, unless they are |
| surveying. Some land surveyors may concentrate | | | | temporary due to some mitigating factor like |
| in the following areas: Construction Layout, | | | | imminent land grading or nearby construction |
| Topographic Surveys, Mapping, Geodetic, Land | | | | activity, plastic flagging dangling from a branch, or |
| Development and Boundary Surveys. Therefore, | | | | vague explanations, when the survey is |
| if you need a professional land surveyor for a | | | | supposedly completed, such as "near the Pole", |
| boundary dispute, and the person you're thinking | | | | "near the mailbox", or "under the shrub". Suitable |
| of hiring mainly deals with construction layout, hire | | | | permanent markers include Plastic Stakes, Iron |
| another professional experienced with boundary | | | | Rods, Iron Pipes, Rebar, Railroad Spikes, Magnetic |
| surveying. Also ask how long this person has been | | | | Nails and other nails in paved areas, Drilled Holes in |
| working as a professional land surveyor. Only hire | | | | boulders or stone walls, Concrete and Granite |
| an experience professional land surveyor to | | | | Bounds. |
| survey your land. | | | | 10. Will they walk the property with you? |
| 5. Does this person pursue continuing education? | | | | - In the course of conducting a survey your |
| - Professionals keep abreast of technological and | | | | professional land surveyor will set many |
| professional advancements. It's the experience | | | | independent survey control markers and will find |
| gained with years of professional practice and a | | | | many existing monuments; not all of these may |
| love of learning that makes a true professional. | | | | be at your property corners. It can be confusing |
| The professional land surveyor you hire to survey | | | | at first. So, make sure that the professional land |
| your land should be well informed and value | | | | surveyor is willing to walk your property with you |
| continuing education. | | | | to identify the actual monuments and markers |
| 6. Does this person have a professional | | | | that mark your property corners. |
| demeanor? | | | | In conclusion, the above 10 Tips On Hiring A |
| - Do they have a professional appearance and do | | | | Professional Land Surveyor to survey your land is |
| they treat you professionally. This is all about | | | | so you can find an experienced professional land |
| respecting you and begins with your initial call and | | | | surveyor that will give you value and quality. Your |
| interaction. If they don't act professional they | | | | land is too valuable not to hire the best |
| probably won't be professional in surveying your | | | | professional land surveyor and have the best |
| land. Do they promptly return calls and emails? | | | | relationship with this professional, right from the |
| Are they willing, even eager, taking time explaining | | | | start. |
| to you how a survey is conducted? Are their | | | | |