Land Surveying Myths and Misconceptions Debunked

· 3 min read
Land Surveying Myths and Misconceptions Debunked

Are you considering having a land survey done on your own property? There are lots of survey related misconceptions that can steer you the wrong manner. Here is the truth about 7 common surveying myths:

Land surveys aren't necessary when you can find the survey stakes - If you discover the survey stakes from the previous survey, all you know is that there was a previous surveyor who determined that location was on the edge of the house. The land surveyor you hire can tell you if what you've found is actually your property line; you might be surprised to discover that in many cases, what you think is really a surveying monument is probably not it at all. Plus, your findings won't hold up in court, but a licensed land surveyor's would.

It is very rare for a neighbor to encroach over a house line - Avoid being so sure that you aren't encroaching onto property that legally belongs to your neighbor, or that they aren't technically on your property. Land surveyors see these types of issues all of the time. Hiring a land surveyor to mark the exact property line is an effective investment in your premises.

Sunlight Surveyors St Jamess London  could build my fence on the property line without a survey - Even though you're sure you're building only on your own land, protect your investment by ensuring you know wherever the house lines are. If as it happens that you have built onto a neighboring property, you may be forced to tear down your projects. Think twice before building a fence right on the house line, even though you know right where it really is. Can you maintain the other side without trespassing on your neighbor's property? Will the footings encroach on their land?

The fence has to be my property line, it's been there a hundred years - Fences, especially those built decades ago, are only an approximation of where in fact the property line is or was thought to be. Even if that fence has been used for decades, that doesn't automatically make it the house line.

All land was already surveyed, it's only a matter of locating the survey - Although you may be ale to find old maps created for tax purposes, oftentimes the land you possess may have never been surveyed. Even if you do look for a previous survey from decades ago, it could not always help solve your issue or help you in identifying the specific property lines on the floor, particularly if the surveyor's monuments are long gone.

I don't require a second survey if the land was surveyed years back - Land survey is an art, not an exact science. It's possible for two surveyors to acquire different results. Also, the measurements are created based on the evidence found; surveyors working at different points in time may not have exactly the same evidence available. The brand new surveyor will have the benefit of the monuments set by the previous surveyor, if they are still in existence, and also any records recorded following the previous survey. If the prior survey's results are being questioned, it may be worth it to have another survey done.


Having a survey done is very costly - Not having a survey done once you really need you can cost you thousands of dollars. Is it worth the risk? This professional service is well worth the cost.