Frequently Asked Questions
When buying land, to protect the investment that you are about to make.
When selling land, to insure that you are selling just the part intended.
When land is not clearly defined by a plat or description.
Before land is divided by deed, will or court order.
When a lending agency (i.e. a mortgage company) requires a survey.
Before constructing improvements such as fences, driveways, buildings, etc., near a property line.
When a parcel is to be split off from or combined to another tract.
Before timber is to be cut near a boundary line.
When purchasing title insurance.
When a property line or corner location is unknown or in dispute.
When you believe someone is encroaching on your land.
When purchasing flood insurance.
We should be able to give you an estimate of the total cost of a particular job as per our fee schedule for office and field work. The cost of a survey will depend on some of the following factors:
The type of survey.
Amount of personnel and equipment required.
The amount of deed and record research required.
The number of unknown corners.
Obstructions or additions to property such as fences and buildings.
The type and clarity of descriptions.
The size and shape of the area to be surveyed.
The terrain of the property and season of survey.
Accessibility to the property and distance from home offices in Clarksdale and Helena.
Disputes about property lines and/or necessity of expert testimony regarding the property.
Whether we have surveyed in the area prior to your job.
We examine your deed and those of adjacent landowners and look for evidence on the ground to see if there are problems with the deeds or property lines.
We advise you as to whether you need a survey, and what type of survey will best fill your needs.
We find your property corners and mark them properly.
We mark and paint boundary lines.
We perform the following types of survey: route, boundary, subdivision, court, mortgage inspection, construction, topographic and more.
We locate oil and gas wells, buildings, fences, rights-of-way, easements, encroachments and other evidence of possession.
We advise and cooperate with your attorney, title insurance company, realtor, broker, banker, engineers or architects regarding your property or prospective property.
We appear in court as expert witnesses.
We perform work in accordance with the United States surveying laws and practices as well as state, county and municipal laws and regulations.
Much of the following information is gathered during an interview with a prospective client, and being prepared is the best way to have your survey completed quickly.
The purpose of the survey.
A copy of your deed, or the book and page where it is recorded in the county Chancery Clerk's office; any survey plats you might have, and information about the location of corners and property lines.
A brief history of ownership and past conveyances of the property.
Names and addresses of adjacent landowners.
Information about disagreements over locations of corners and lines.
A site visit.
An agreement as to who is to pay for the survey and when, as well as a deadline for when the survey should be complete.
A copy of all the title examination notes, if available.
Survey plat(s) (drawings and maps) suitable for recording, showing all necessary information in accordance with state laws.
A property description, if necessary.
A surveyor's inspection report or other required and agreed-upon documents (elevation certificates, etc.).
Inspect your property lines occasionally.
Repaint monuments, marked trees, or other markers frequently or as necessary.
Maintain and protect your survey plats and other related documents (we advise keeping a copy and storing your originals in a safety deposit box or in a similarly secure and fireproof location).
Do not mistake preliminary traverse lines for true property lines.
Do not move or relocate monuments; to do so is a violation of the law in many states.
Select only a registered Professional Land Surveyor to do your surveying work; a surveyor who is not registered in the state where the property lies cannot legally conduct a survey.
Contact and engage the services of a Professional Land Surveyor well before the survey is necessary.
Class A Surveys: Surveys of extensively developed and expansive properties which require maximum surveying accuracy.
Class B Surveys: Surveys of properties which are subject to costly improvements and justify a high degree of surveying accuracy.
Class C Surveys: Surveys of residential and surrounding areas which are apt to increase rapidly in value.
Class D Surveys: Surveys of all remaining properties which cannot be classified as Class A, B or C surveys. This includes surveys of farmlands and rural areas.
