Surveyor rights to access private property in MO

[JJT]

Don't sweat the small stuff..... Is this really an issue to get worked up over?

Yes, they should have checked with you first. But evidently they didn't think this was a big deal.

 

[jk96]

Makes sense to me that surveyors would be exempt from petty allegations of trespassing just for trying to do their job. But it's pretty darn rude to have an attitude that they don't even need to contact property owners first to notify them of their activities. I guess one risk of that would be a property owner trying to say no, you can't, then having to argue that yes, we can.

But can't they at least knock at your door to say "hi, we're going to be surveying next door, so we'll just be parked here for a bit" ?

Also quite rude for the owner/company not to close the loop on communicating back to the surveying team for some simple notification/awareness.

I agree in most cases probably easier for them to ask forgiveness then permission. In this case however they don't seem to care about either. In my opinion they seem to be confusing the necessary clause with convenience in Missouri statute

 

[2manyrocks]

Surveyors probably develop a practice of just getting the job done without knocking because there are so many that would tell them they are trespassing and can't access their property. So knocking on the doors of these people would actually escalate the problems.

Surveyors also are the ones that deal with boundary issues which seems to be near the top of the list when it comes to neighbor disputes. I guess they have to have a thick skin.

I'm sorry you've been offended. Surveyor's work might actually be useful to you if they accurately mark the line so you don't have a dispute with your neighbor or the next owner who moves in next to you in the future.

 

[workinonit]

That would piss me off, really bad. I would chain their truck to a tree.

 

[D&D]

I'm not quite in the care less category but I have no problems whatsoever granting them access provided they give me a heads up. My problem began when their office had my cell phone number from the first conversation and showed up a second time unannounced walking my property then had a very dismissive "we can't be prosecuted for trespass" comment when I called them a second time. Now in regards to this company I've moved to the middle finger category of person.

Well, devils advocate, did you tell them to stay off your property the first time you called? Their interpretation may have been that since they spoke with you, access was now implied since it was not revoked.
Is this really that big of a deal to you since you know what they are doing? If they are surveying the adjoining site, the shared boundaries get found.

 

[workinonit]

Surveyors probably develop a practice of just getting the job done without knocking because there are so many that would tell them they are trespassing and can't access their property. So knocking on the doors of these people would actually escalate the problems.

Surveyors also are the ones that deal with boundary issues which seems to be near the top of the list when it comes to neighbor disputes. I guess they have to have a thick skin.

I'm sorry you've been offended. Surveyor's work might actually be useful to you if they accurately mark the line so you don't have a dispute with your neighbor or the next owner who moves in next to you in the future.

He said he has no problem with the survey or allowing them access. Coming home to an empty truck in your drive is unnerving.

 

[jk96]

Don't sweat the small stuff..... Is this really an issue to get worked up over?

Yes, they should have checked with you first. But evidently they didn't think this was a big deal.

The first time wasn't a big deal. I only asked that I get a heads up or knock on the door next time they're going to be on my property. It only became a big deal when they showed up second time and walked the property without even knocking on my door. A little respect goes a long way and instead they pulled the we can't be prosecuted for trespass card and basically told me to pound sand. I don't think asking for a knock on the door is unreasonable

 

[D&D]

That would piss me off, really bad. I would chain their truck to a tree.

Ooh, implied kidnapping. That probably would not work well for you.

 

[deezler]

Couldn't you reasonably have their vehicle towed away? If I show up to my home with a random locked vehicle there, and no one around to explain it, is the burden really on me to find out who it is and what right they have to be there?

What if its a stolen vehicle that's been dumped? (that actually happened in my driveway once, suspects were considered armed and dangerous and were fleeing police after not getting away cleanly). My wife called police before I could get home from work, and the police called for it to be towed after investigating the vehicle/scene.

 

[workinonit]

LOL. Who it wouldn't work well for is the truck on my property. I can assure you there would be zero ramifications is the place I live if a truck is on my property, unattended and running. Our sheriff would help me put the chain on. Implied kidnapping. Pfft. People around our part of the country know better than to do crap like that.

Ooh, implied kidnapping. That probably would not work well for you.