Need a Survey

Soundguy · Apr 20, 2004

I imagine the big differenes in prices you are seeing were actual work prices. Lots of times they may just be kicking the corners.. money comes in when they have to reset tack points.. or rod and cap.. monuments.. etc.

Look at your existing survey and see what is set at the corners.. rod and cap.. monument.. etc.. then go look for them... might get lucky.

Soundguy

EddieWalker · Apr 21, 2004

TC18guy,

Funny you mention original surveys and the dificulty in finding the markers.

I live in Smith County, East Texas. The county has no record of the boundries for the county. A specialist, or at least he's very good at finding these things, tried to find an original survey for find the official boundries for the county.

No luck.

It seems they were marked on trees, which are long gone.

I guess this is normal, but it does make me wonder about all those other boundries across the country and how well they are recorded.

TC18guy · Apr 21, 2004

Records do very across the country. State laws mandate which and when surveys need to be recorded. The East side of the country was settled first, i.e. the original surveys are much older. As settlement moved west, the surveys were more recent and the monumentation got a little better. In more polulated areas there are more surveys and more recorded records to perpetuate an original corner. In extremely rural areas there may have not been any perpetuation since the corner was originally placed, sometimes the only evidence you have is patterns of fence lines, tree rows, etc. Here in Michigan I've heard several stories of surveyors finding original US Bearing trees with the original markings intact. Around my area we've found a few of the original wood posts under roads, in swamps, etc.

BRIGUY · Apr 22, 2004

Thanx everyone for all the helpful information. I've done quite a bit of clearing of brush and debris near the property lines, much to the dismay of a few of the owners of adjacent properties. Seems that a few of them have been dumping stuff on my land for some time. I removed 40+ trailer loads of burnable stuff (20 cu ft garden trailer piled as high as I could pile it) from one of my fence lines. Fences, swing sets stairs. brush piles, 100= linear ft of rotten stockade fence etc etc!!!! Burned for two days straight!!!
I consulted with several surveyors and wasn't tickeled with any of them for various reasons. Researched deeds and tax maps. Then I was able to consult with and retain the surveyor who subdivided the property in 1986 and again in 1989. He has all the documentation Topo, Surveys and surveyors notes on the property back to 1916. When my 1.5 acres was actually 5 lots and 2 or 3 roads. my lot also borders 8 peices of land I have 2 rights of way through adjacent properties (only one on the Deed) and has 8 corners 3 of which had pins. I was offered several options staking some corners, all corners, and full update of the survey. I have decide not to cheap out and have it done right. The funny thing is that it still isn't going to cost as much as some of the other surveyers wanted to stake 4 corners.

Best of all I found out that the surveyor just purchased a new Kubota. He's the right guy for the job.

Junkman · Apr 22, 2004

While he is there, have him clearly mark out and pin the right of ways, so you will always know where they are. I owned a piece of land that I was going to build on, but a survey showed a "cart road right of way" going through the area that I wanted to build the house on. I decided not to build because of this and sold the land. The new buyer decided that he would gamble and put his house in the middle of the right of way and worry about it later if there ever was a problem. I didn't have the stomach for that type of gamble.

Currmudgeon · Apr 23, 2004

( I was able to consult with and retain the surveyor who subdivided the property in 1986 and again in 1989. He has all the documentation Topo, Surveys and surveyors notes on the property back to 1916. )

That can be precious. There's a surveyor I like to work with in one of the outlying counties. When the County has a land question, they call him because his land records are better than theirs. You just can't be in a hurry, because he is busier'n hell and will do your work when it comes up on his list.

keeney · Apr 23, 2004

In my town, there is one survey company in that has done most of the work around the area. Problem is, they made about a 2' mistake about 25 years ago when sub-dividing the lots. 2' doesn't seem like a lot, but when you are paying by the foot for lakeshore, it can get people at each other's throats in a hurry.

They had a survey for my lot, but when I wanted to build, they wanted too much money for a simple "update". Plus, the old servey was hand-drawn and would not be available in electronic form. Plus I didn't think I should have to pay for them to correct their own mistakes!

I found a different, newer firm with a bunch of young guys who use modern equipment like computers, lasers, and GPS. They were $600 cheaper and gave me copies of the files which have come in handy on numerous occasions for producing plans, drawings, and sketches of my landscaping, irrigation, etc.

Now, I know exactly where all the boundaries are and maintain the pins as best as I can. Funny thing is about survey pins and neighbors. The pins that show the true property line being not in their favor compared to where they wished it was tend to mysteriously disappear.

- Rick

Lazy · Apr 23, 2004

Hi
I thought it was illegal to tamper with boundary pins.
They could get into a lot of trouble if they are removing or relocating them.

charlie

Poppa · Apr 23, 2004

( Hi
I thought it was illegal to tamper with boundary pins.
They could get into a lot of trouble if they are removing or relocating them.

charlie )

I've often seen them get accidentally pulled/buried/moved/thrown down a slope/locked in a garage/recycled into concrete work, while grading or digging postholes. Tragic but true.

Mike

Junkman · Apr 23, 2004

I have had the same problem and this time the surveyor is going to set a 36" long granite monuments in concrete. He said that the only way that these will come out is if they dig them out. I believe that there fine is a hefty fine, plus jail time in CT for first time tampering with a marker that has been installed by a surveyor.