As a Homeowner, You Will Need a Land Surveyor

Land surveyors are professionals who note the legal boundaries of plots of land and who work to create maps based on those boundaries, and who also conduct topographical studies of land. As a homeowner, you may never think you would need the services of a land surveyor if you already own your property and have the boundaries marked off by a fence or some type of landmark. However, there are times when you should call a land surveyor to do a study of your property, and it can be good to invest in their services as a way of protecting your rights and even saving you money. Note when and how this is.

1. Flood insurance

Your homeowner's insurance carrier may insist that you carry flood insurance if your home is in a flood zone. However, a land surveyor can note if your home is above or below that flood elevation. If your home is not actually in a flood zone because of its elevation, this might save you money on your homeowner's insurance. Have a land surveyor check your property if you think there is any question about your overall risk of a flood on your property and then present their findings to your homeowner's insurance carrier.

2. Drainage

A land surveyor doesn't just mark boundaries on property, but because they also study the topography of land, they can help to determine how to best handle drainage issues. This can be important if you're thinking of putting in a new irrigation system or retaining wall, or if your property tends to flood. The land surveyor can note how to grade the property so that drainage is improved or so that it does not become an issue with your new sprinkler system and the like.

3. Adding outbuildings

Very often there are local regulations that affect the placement of outbuildings on your property; a shed or granny flat may need to be set back a certain distance from the property boundary or the boundary between you and a neighbor to ensure nothing encroaches on someone else's property. If you're thinking of adding any type of outbuilding to your property, it's good to call a land surveyor so you have the boundaries legally and clearly marked before work begins. This will ensure you're within those local regulations and don't face any fines from your city or arguments from neighbors as to how close those buildings are to their property line.


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