A Crash Course in Land Surveys (When I Order Them, What Kind I Get, and Why They're Helpful)

[@ela111961]

Thank you for posting. Great info. Received my survey reports, plat map, topography yesterday.for my small 3 acre lot in California. They found few feet discrepancies plus minus but sqfootage unchanged. Cost me $2,000 + $800 for copies submitted to city planning. Got exact quote by other surveyors. Yes, happy to have topography survey as my contractor needed to design entrance exit and parking lot and boundary fencing. All plans halted by city without survey. Happy to watch this video at 3am.❤

[@jdgreenerfc]

Hey for anyone new who doesn't know Seth; you found a great resource. Seth has so much knowledge, experience and the abiliy to explain it well that I've found myself watching his content for years, buying his course, then keyword searching my question +retipster... great guy... thanks Seth.

[@Retipster]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Jay!

[@caasinauj]

It's mind-boggling that some people think paying for a survey is expensive then pay 2-6% of the cost of the property to realtors.

[@teisha221wit]

Can you explain more?

[@wadepatton2433]

@@teisha221wit I can. A realtor cannot tell you exactly where the property lines are. A surveyor is required to do that. A realtor is a salesman. A surveyor is a service provider who will stand up in court do defend where he/she says your property line is. A realtor is done once the contract is closed and commissions are paid. Surveyors write the descriptions that become part of the permanent record of what lines and corners define your property. Realtors get their money without question, but folks hesitate to hire a survey because it's "expensive". Land is expensive, services are expensive, and salesfolks are expensive. Knowing exactly where your property corners are can be priceless. Surveyors can provide that. A realtor generally does not.

[@wadepatton2433]

Also, I had a survey done on a tract of forest land I was buying. Turns out I got 10 more acres than had bargained for. The previous owner did not know she owned 10 more acres--she had relied upon the tax maps and the tax maps were wrong. My neighbors knew where the line was and we surveyed accordingly. The cost of the survey was completely offset by the increase in property acquired--knowing it was mine. I have enjoyed those 10 "extra" acres. All for the cost of a boundary survey and a new, accurate description of the property.

[@angetodac]

@@wadepatton2433 it could have been lacking few acres as well ..you just got lucky

[@wadepatton2433]

@@angetodac I found out BEFORE closing the deal. That's not just luck. I would have known before I signed the final papers and could have negotiated on those facts only because I'd hired a surveyor. Yes it did come out in my favor.

[@ramonbaccomperi7871]

Nice work, please can you recommend some books to read for anyone who's interested in practicing surveying.

[@sunshinestateofmindhomeimp62]

What type of survey was conducted at 17:40? Your response is appreciated.

[@codyrunge8190]

Interesting video at 19:20 roughly you mention building a home on a piece of land, to get the view of the lake, but in doing so would build in the 100yr flood plain, keeping the property outside this would minimize insurance long term… - could still extend utilities to the middle area of the parcel to get a better view and keep outside the floodplain?

[@AmyStreetLife]

I'm so grateful for this video. Yours is the first video I was able to find that is exactly what I need.

[@Retipster]

That's great to hear! Thanks for the nice comment, Amy.

[@robertwest3897]

@REtipster what website did you pull up the survey forms on?

[@sylviacastellanos2826]

This video relates to something I am doing. I am considering vacant lands on the OTC list of a semi-rural county in Pennsylvania. On the county’s GIS map I see the various properties I am interested in marked by a clear rectangle. The problem arises when I physically drive to the spot. Usually the lot I am interested in is part of a stretch along the road that is just an unbroken expanse land covered by trees. In other words, it is “my” lot plus others perhaps to the left and the right of it. Perhaps there is a house across the street that helps orient me a little bit, but only a little bit. I have the coordinates and I have the information of where the deed appears in the book, but as I am looking at the stretch of vacant land that does not help. Is this a situation where before buying anything I would need a surveyor to tell me exactly where the property is? Or would I at least need to have it surveyed before I sell it? And let me get back to the reference I made to that stretch of land being totally covered by trees. How does this affect the desirability of the land, which I would presumably sell to someone who wants to build a house? (Actually, cutting down most of those trees seems like a shame.) I will appreciate any thoughts you can share with me on this.

[@Retipster]

The county's GIS map (depending on where you're looking at it and how current their information is) is not always correct. I was just looking at a GIS parcel this morning that was totally wrong. The only way to be 100% sure is to order a survey, which will tell you exactly what the property consists of, and they'll put stakes at each corner on site. If you're paying any notable amount of money for a parcel of land, this should be a pretty basic part of your due diligence to be sure of what you're buying.

[@kolankprof]

Thank You! Great content and very helpful to my situation. Suggestion .... your podcast desk bounces a bit in this video especially when you gesticulate .... thus creating a shaky video.

[@Retipster]

Thanks for the heads up! I’ll try to fix that.

[@givesendgowin7867]

Everything on my property was in a title search but there is a road that is apparently on my property that is supposedly an unmaintained county road used as an easement. But i don't know if it actually is an easement. Could an unmaintained county road go across a private property. There are other roads that go to the other properties so that the road on my property is not needed for the access to those other properties. If a surveyor determines that the road is on my property than the county surveyor told me i can put a fence across it. However there are no local surveyors to contact and from the county parcel viewer it shows the road is on my property. There is government Land use property on the other side of the road where the border is about 10 feet away from the side of the road.

[@danshd.9316]

How much for topo and soil report? Do you have any video on that? What should be price range for 11k sq ft raw land? Can you also include few vendors? Thanks

[@Retipster]

It depends a lot on the size and location of the property and who you hire for the job. To get you an idea, I'm paying $3,000 for a topo survey on 6.7 acres of land, and $3,800 for a geotechnical study (where they take soil borings throughout the property). I think that's a little on the high end, but it's an example, nonetheless.

[@larryguinee6344]

Knowing what you need in a survey is a good start but many people won't know. In the case of not knowing, tell the surveyor what you want to accomplish. ALTA surveys are typically for commercial properties and required by lender who will state the standard of Table A options they want for the loan. Land locked property should be able to be determined by the Title Company, so ask for Title Report if you are buying undeveloped property. If it is land locked, talk to neighbors to see if someone will grant you an easement, prior to ordering a survey. Agreed the small survey company will be a lot less expensive than large ones, but $1000 is cheap by today's standards. And compiling the research info can be very time consuming. Example is the County may have a subdivision map and other maps filed by private surveys in which another map or other documents are referenced which means the surveyor will need to get and read those before doing the field work. Development wise, the City or County will have info on what they require which usually will include on site evidence of the lot lines. If you can get a copy of the subdivision map prior to buying a property, they will show location of anything found or set at the time of the subdivision.

[@jayclyde6045]

20:20, When one does call more than one surveyor, make sure you remember the previous estimates and restate them to the second and third so they can cut throat them as well. That's what usually always would happen to us and being blessed to have a name that's usually listed first in the yellow pages sucked ass!!

[@Retipster]

That's a good idea, thanks for sharing Jay! I'm actually getting quotes on a survey right now, I'll be sure to use this little trick. :)

[@kellywhite1663]

I thought I was getting pretty wise in my older age then something blind sides me that I was totally oblivious to, I just bought a vacant property and thanks to the woman in county zoning ( she's like an encyclopedia about this stuff) told me the properties on both sides of me had surveys and I can get copies of them from the register of deeds dept, she didn't say right out that I could use them for setbacks if I want to build but I'm assuming I can, I hope so.

[@cheyennepruitt2083]

Thank you so much. This information was very helpful. I hired a surveyor. I told him my neighbor widen her driveway and dug up my yard. Long story short I asked for a boundary survey. He did give me an estimate of $1800 or maybe a little more (this is without even seeing my property). Not knowing I said ok and mailed him a $500 retainer. He put the steaks and metal rods out. I'm not happy with the outcome, I believe his measurements are not accurate . He said I should mail him $1,591. I asked him to explain the the survey to me and I haven't heard back from him as of yet. Do you have any advice?

[@Brian-mc4pd]

Just came across your site - great info and easy to understand. I own about 26 acres in western New York and years ago we were going to build a house there. Isn’t there some kind of survey where they just survey the building site? In other words, they wouldn’t survey the entire 26 acres, but rather they would just survey where we want the house to make sure it is on the property. So it wouldn’t matter necessarily where the borders are, but just make sure the house is being built within those borders.

[@edwardshackelford9158]

Yes sir, the land surveying company you call will work in the area you want

[@letoatreides9512]

A sound investment with that property would be a boundary survey for the entire lot. You also want to watch out for easements or any hidden encroachments on that property. I am a student, so take my advise as that.

[@imammahdi12]

What if your land is plated but doesn’t have physical access? What do you do then? Who do you talk to build that road

[@briansalisbury5755]

Still surveyors

[@AngelsofMercy-f5q]

What if there is a house on the land ?

[@Retipster]

A survey should show any houses or other improvements on the property.

[@charlesviner1565]

Thanks for the video, new subscriber from Davenport Iowa

[@Retipster]

Thanks so much, Charles! I love Iowa!

[@sandytaylor1881]

Thanks so much! I was told 12,000 8500 for a 13 acre of land survey with no previous survey. My dreams of buying my home and land were crushed

[@Retipster]

Wow, seriously? Sounds like a good situation to get some bids from other surveyors. Sometimes, their pricing varies a lot.

[@TamaraGrace]

This was wonderful information and has greatly helped me understand much more, than I did in the beginning. Thanks for the info!

[@Retipster]

That's great to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@Jaz51279]

Incredibly, incredibly helpful, thank you!!

[@Retipster]

Thanks, Jasmine! Good luck!

[@LivingWithTheGuzmans]

Thanks

[@mafiaseargent]

I want to put up a fence around my yard so I need to know where my property line is.

[@Retipster]

That sounds like a good reason to order a survey. Good luck!

[@waltertur9731]

When buying a property the bank requires a boundary survey before the will give you a mortgage

[@Retipster]

The smart ones will, yes... but not all of them.

[@philippkirschbaum7598]

Very informative, thank you!

[@Retipster]

Thanks for watching!

[@teresavict1831]

What kind of survey do i need i need to know if tree belong to me?

[@bo_metal]

Some surveyors will stake a single property line for such instances as a tree location. But they will not legally defend that work should a lawsuit arise in a dispute. For them to legally defend the property line they will need to do a professional survey of the entire property. Im a 25 year surveyor, hope this helps.

[@bo_metal]

Boundary Survey.

[@teresavict1831]

Thanks you.

[@Hsinkuang]

Great lesson! Thank you for sharing

[@Retipster]

Thanks for watching!

[@k189644]

Very helpful 😊

[@seraph8258]

Very helpful information!

[@Retipster]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.

[@mitchmackenzie3293]

fantastic video

[@njjjjjjjjhhhs]

Very informative

[@abdulalimmirza3473]

Thanks Sir.

[@younggunz4081]

Gold standard lesson

[@robertmcgee7083]

Don’t know why a person would buy a property that needs a survey, or how a person can sell a property that isn’t identifiable.

[@briansalisbury5755]

Most states, by law, require surveys when selling. And it's definitely for a good reason

[@PaulMontero-i8k]

If you want advice about surveying then ask a surveyor, not a real estate salesman.

[@dennismyers8867]

OMG

[@mule8345]

No a fair statement on the issue of surveyors charging high unfair fees. Most of us know what type survey folks will require. So I am not sure why would you say that. Also, Rey often you will find honest and professional surveyors.

[@larryguinee6344]

I think you meant to say "Not" on first word and agree that surveyors will only charge for what is needed but prices will vary, usually due to size of company. Equipment costs are high and AutoCAD costs seem insane as software has gone to subscription instead of ownership.

[@morticianpete]

You repeat over and over thanks but no thanks.

[@acworthgirl1]

Overall crappy advice- please stop talking about things you do not understand!

[@TamaraGrace]

Are you kidding me? Dude, I don't know about you but, someone who has no idea what's going on with land surveys, there is a plethora of information to be had on this guy's channel. I'm so glad he made this video, and so glad other professional surveyors commented on his channel, as I'm going through each and everyone of them, gathering much needed information... You were rude. Have a blessed day!

[@andykumar4103]

@@TamaraGrace Well , that comment must be from a bored teenager

[@TamaraGrace]

@@andykumar4103 thanks! 😝