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• When considering buying-selling or refinancing land
• Installing fences near property lines
• Land clearing | Harvesting timber
• New land development
• Dividing an estate

When property corners are unmarked, a land survey ensures their precise demarcation and placement of monuments. Following this, a Plat of Survey, signed by the surveyor, is prepared. This document details the type and location of monuments, measurements of property lines, and information on encroachments, building lines, and easements. Upon request, the Surveyor can also indicate the positions of buildings or specified markers on the parcel.

Surveys fall into three main categories: boundary surveys, engineering Surveys, and environmental surveys. Boundary Surveys encompass various types such as monumented land survey, land survey plat, improvement survey plat, American Land Title Association (ALTA) survey, and others. In Texas, boundary surveys adhere to the 'Minimum Standards of Practice' set by the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveyors, with specific requirements outlined in the 'Manual of Practice' by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Engineering surveys include topographic Surveys, right-of-way acquisition Surveys, and construction surveys. These surveys can generate plan and profile sheets, digital terrain models, aerial maps, and subdivision plats. On the other hand, environmental surveys cover monitoring well locations, wetlands delineation, landfill surveying, and remedial operations.

As a condition for providing flood insurance in a community, the NFIP mandates the adoption of floodplain management regulations. These regulations outline minimum standards to mitigate flood losses. One key requirement is for the community to secure elevation certificates for the lowest floor (including basements) of all new and substantially improved structures, maintaining a record of this information. The elevation certificate serves as a documentation tool, enabling the community to demonstrate adherence to its floodplain management ordinance.

In time-sensitive situations where a survey is urgently required, for smaller projects we can produce a Survey within 2 weeks. 

Typically, this process is completed within one or two days, with corner placement occurring on the third or fourth day. The timeline depends on the complexity of the survey: size of property, location, configuration, terrain, weather, title defects, access issues, etc.

Survey costs vary based on several factors, can range from a few hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It all vary's depending on the types of Survey needed, the precision required, and the specific characteristics of the property. Here are some key considerations:

- Type of Survey:

  - The complexity and scope of the survey play a significant role in determining costs.

- Record Search:

  - Costs may be influenced by factors such as the number of parcels involved, past transactions, rights, and the complexity of deed descriptions.

- Size and Shape of Property:

  - Irregularly shaped parcels generally incur higher costs due to the increased number of corners and lines to be surveyed.

- Sectionalized Survey Work (Rural Tracts):

  - Surveys covering entire sections of rural land can contribute to higher costs.

- Terrain and Accessibility:

  - The topography of the land and ease of access can affect surveying costs.

- Vegetation:

  - Clearing vegetation for a clear line of sight may add to the overall cost.

- Existing Evidence on the Property:

  - The presence of pre-existing monuments and markers can influence costs.

- Time of Year:

  - Seasonal factors, such as foliage or adverse weather conditions, can impact surveying costs.

- Title Company Requirements:

  - Additional documentation requested by title companies may contribute to overall survey costs.