How much $ to survey land?

[WoodChuckDad]

I was asked by a friend what to expect for a survey. I know it depends on the size of the property, terrain and market. My last experience was a single property border approximately 1/3 mile long, in 2019 with some tough terrain in the middle. Price paid was approx $400
But if anyone’s had it done recently could you give answer with
Size,
Area (state),
Year performed,
Cost

 

[LittleBill21]

PA 100 acres 5 years ago, subdivided 7 lots. 28k, almost threw up.

last year boundary lines on 30 acres next door neighbor rush job 6k

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I know around me surveyors have more work than they can keep up with. So I feel like they can be choosy about what sorts of projects they take on. I know if it was me I would not want to survey my swampy overgrown property, definitely not in the warmer months. My neighbor had his property surveyed 35 acres. Not sure how much it cost him but it took them 6 months by the time they got it done.

 

[JPRambo]

My neighbor had his <2.5 acres surveyed $1700. Very easy access

 

[Roadworthy]

Prices can vary significantly. Contact a few surveyors in your area for estimates.

 

[IndyIan]

PA 100 acres 5 years ago, subdivided 7 lots. 28k, almost threw up.

last year boundary lines on 30 acres next door neighbor rush job 6k

Was that with lots of clearing trees off the sight lines? My severed property required quite a bit of cutting along the line, and they had to offset around some very big trees. I'm sure it wasn't a quick job.
In 2017, I did hire a surveyor to establish that my property/driveway did actually get to the road allowance, it was $1k for him for the day and registering the more detailed survey of my place.

 

[oosik]

Surveying can take a lot of time - can be tough in hilly terrain - clearing the lines can be labor intensive.

1939 - my father purchased the 80 acres I now have. It was part of a government homestead/land grant. The 80 acres was surveyed by a gov surveyor and written up as a meets/bounds description.

For my needs - it is more than adequate. My property is a mile west of the county road. Smack dab on the eastern edge of thousands of acres of open range land. A foot or so - here or there - means absolutely nothing to me or my two neighbors.

However - over the years all four corners have been officially surveyed and recorded. Surrounding land sales and with a bank being involved, required these surveys.

Surprisingly - my barbed wire fence ended up right on the survey lines.

 

[Bearsixty7]

$3200 for ~100 acres in southwest MO. in Aug/Sep 2024.

The survey paid for itself as it was listed as 110 but ended up measuring to only 107, so the price was adjusted and we have clearly marked property corners with stakes and Steel rods now.

 

[dodge man]

I’m a land surveyor, mostly retired but still licensed in Illinois and I used to be licensed in Iowa. Virginia is what is known as a metes and bounds state, quite a bit different than Illinois.

How much for a survey? That’s like how much money for a truck? It’s tough to pin down. I’d say the days of $400 are mostly over. I’ve done a few of those over the years but usually lots in town that I’ve done before.

The size of the property can affect the price but not always. On larger property’s, say over a few acres the terrain has more to do with it. There are places in this area, very flat, no trees, all farm ground, that I could survey 640 acres for $2000 to $3000 including a plat of survey. I live on 3 acres and it would probably cost that much to do mine if I were to be charged for it.

They charge about $150 an hour for my time and if I had a helper it could get to $200 to $250 and hour for a two man crew. You can see if you have two long days in the field and then office time, courthouse research, and then drafting time for a plat, it’s easy to get over $5k in a hurry.

 

[JeepHead]

$3600 for 20 acres thick woods and some hills 9/23 in Indiana. That included 4' stakes every 100'.