Q & A
Q: What does a Land Surveyor do?
A: Surveyors do many different types of work. They measure and record land, air and water spaces. Their highly accurate information is used to prepare deeds, leases and other legal documents. They create and prepare plats of residential and commercial lots for orderly development. Surveyors provide elevation and location control stakes for large and small construction projects, such as highways, buildings and parking lots. Specific types are, but not limited to: BOUNDARY SURVEYS, LOCATION SURVEYS, TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS, SITE PLANNING, SUBDIVISION DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION SURVEYS, ALTA/ACSM LAND TITLE SURVEYS, and ACCIDENT PLATS.
Q: What geographical areas do you serve?
A: Survey Services, Inc. serves generally south central Minnesota, roughly a 50 mile radius of the cities of Mankato-North Mankato.
Q: Does your firm specialize in certain types of surveying?
A: As opposed to consulting engineering type firms, which provide Land Surveying in support of their engineering services, we specialize in all areas of Land Surveying. These areas include Land Development and Planning, Subdivision Design and Platting, Architectural and Location Surveys, ALTA/ACSM and Title Surveys, Boundary and Easement Surveys, Residential Lot Surveys, Rural Acreage Surveys, Topographic and Hydrologic Surveys. We also provide Construction Surveys for many consulting engineering firms.
Q: Does your firm have many competitors and, if so, how do you compete with them?
A: Yes, we have many competitors in this area ranging from large Metro area firms working for specific national clients to local engineering companies doing land surveys. We also compete against smaller 2 or 3 person companies, usually located in small southern Minnesota communities. We have survived ups and downs in the economy since 1978 and been able to compete very affectively by adhering to one philosophy. If you provide a useful service, you do it well, do it quickly, and at a reasonable cost, you have a good chance at being successful. We are mindful that the client will determine our success and that a referral from satisfied clients is the best advertising we can have.
Q: How has your firm remained relatively small as compared to your nearest competitors?
A: As we mentioned before we are a full service Land Surveying company. Our nearest competitors are consulting engineering companies, providing services related to many different fields of engineering. The bread and butter of land surveying are land development, subdivision design, and platting. The ups and downs of housing do not dictate a rapid growth in personnel. We would rather provide a few meaningful jobs with good benefits, than to layoff a good employee because we were overstaffed when times were lean. As a result, we have leaned on technology to keep us trim and competitive.
Q: How has technology affected your company?
A: Technology is very important to our company. Since the day we opened our door, new technology enabled us to lead the way in new methods for Land Surveying. We were the first in our area to go to 2-man crews, the first to use radial stake-out and the first to use robotic total stations, which enable us to respond quickly to a location with a 1-man crew. Today RTK GPS is huge. Our field crews are all equipped with the most up-to-date equipment available. Our office is staffed by highly qualified CAD specialists. We have always used the latest versions of Auto-Cad and today use it with Land Development Desktop. It is important for us to provide our drawings in the format that our clients want. Our records are now stored digitally, enabling us to retrieve information immediately. We make a very significant investment in technology every year. Today’s fast paced work environment dictates we be the best we can be.
Q: Why Would I Need A Land Surveyor?
A: You will probably require the services of a land surveyor only a few times during your life, unless your business involves land use in some way. The need usually arises when you buy a house, a lot, or a larger tract of land. If you are a Lawyer, Engineer, Architect, Realtor, Developer, or work for a utility company or any state or local government agency, then you will probably need the services of a Professional Land Surveyor many times. For the average person you may need a survey when buying a house or vacation property, or when adding new additions or garages to existing properties.
Before title to land is conveyed, it is desirable to have an adequate description of the property for the deed, including an accurate determination of the acreage. It is also important to know if there are any physical features or title overlaps which might constitute encroachments or, in some other way adversely affect the title to the land. Only an up to-date survey, by a Professional Land Surveyor, can give you this information.
Before land is improved by constructing drives, fences, walls or buildings, it is desirable to know the location of the property corners and boundaries. Using the services of a Professional Land Surveyor, for staking and grading the locations of the improvements, avoids encroachments upon adjoining property and possible litigation at a later date. It also insures the improvements will be constructed according to the design plans.
Before land is partitioned by will or by Court Order, a survey of the land is needed. In the case of a will, the boundary of the property as well as the improvements, such as buildings, roads and drives, on the property need to be located. When the land is divided, the heirs can easily decide on the location of the new dividing lines. Also, before the Court can establish a disputed boundary line it needs an accurate survey of the land. The Professional Land Surveyor can provide the necessary maps.
When a question arises as to the location of a boundary line between you and your neighbor, the first thing you need to do is get an accurate boundary survey. When the survey is completed, the Professional Land Surveyor can explain the location of the boundary line. In some cases, the surveyor can help solve the problem between you and your neighbor; at other times, the surveyor will appear in court as an expert witness on your behalf.
Q: How much does a Land Survey cost?
A: The Professional Land Surveyor’s fees include the time to search for deeds or court records, locate the physical boundary evidence at the property, make the necessary computations to check the boundary, place appropriate markers on the property, and prepare a survey drawing.
The cost of the survey may vary because of missing corner evidence, disputed boundary lines, rough terrain, heavy underbrush, poor land descriptions in the deeds, and travel time to and from the property.
Because of these varying conditions, it is difficult for the Professional Land Surveyor to predict an exact cost. However, if it can be established, exactly what kind of survey you need, an experienced surveyor should be able to give you a reasonable range of cost over the phone.
If you needed heart surgery, would you select the cheapest or the best surgeon? The same principle applies when selecting a Professional Land Surveyor. Remember, many times, buying the “cheapest” may actually cost more in the long run.
It is best to select a Professional Land Surveyor by experience and qualifications. A well-qualified land surveyor will take the time to ask you about your needs for the survey. The surveyor will then explain what is required to complete your survey, and will answer all of your questions in a helpful manner so that you understand the process.