Surveyors

cowboydoc · Aug 10, 2004

A few inches here or a degree there in order to get a deed to close or to get it to match the adjacent deed might not make a difference in a parcel that's 1,000 acres

Mike you talked about alot of discrepancies. Do you see this more with the small parcels of land? Is it the same in the country where there is alot of bigger parcels of land? I had no idea that there was so much discrepancy. Most everything around us is hundred acre or more parcels.

beenthere · Aug 10, 2004

I find, in my experience, that a surveyor is quick to say 'the other surveyor was wrong' and plant a new corner stake, separate from the corner post that has existed and identified as the corner of four properties for over 100 years. I would be satisfied if they would at least agree with each other.

When I originally had my land surveyed, it was comical to see the antics that the surveyor was going through to 'find' the section line ("here are some rocks piled there and this old barb wire in the grass over here", made up the 'imaginary' section line. After spending a lot of my money on the mis-directed efforts, finally managed to get some section lines run that pinned down the section corner right where the old timer said it was supposed to be. At that time (60's), the corner was established. Then changed to a different location in the 70's, and a different one in the 80's. Fortunately, I haven't had to change my fence lines each time they relocate the section corner. But who knows what is next? Surveyors are human just like everyone else, even including doctors and engineers. They can all make mistakes. But I think all think they are doing their best with what they have to work with, and don't make mistakes intentionally. IMO /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MikePA · Aug 11, 2004

Do you see this more with the small parcels of land?
When the parcel was last surveyed seemed to make more of a difference rather than the size. IOW, the more recent the survey, typically, the higher the odds the deed would close.

I should add that we always ran the deed to be surveyed through a computer program (at the time it was a glorified desktop calculator) to determine if it closed. Took a few minutes to enter the directions and distances and the program would tell us how close it came. That would determine if we had to gather more information at the court house or if we could go directly to the field.

There are programs on the Internet that will do this for you now and even draw you a plot plan with title, etc. When I think of all the time I spent at a drafting table with a LeRoy Lettering Kit (special ink pen kit) drawing up plot plans... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Is it the same in the country where there is alot of bigger parcels of land?
Yep. City, suburban, country didn't make a difference.

I had no idea that there was so much discrepancy.
We didn't find issues on every survey, just enough to make it interesting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · Aug 11, 2004

Mike; you should try Linen paper, India ink in bottles, pens with nibs and be working in an area that is at about 80 F. Fortunetly there was an electric eraser. Used to put chalk dust on the linen to keep from sticking to it.

Those pens and lettering quides were the greatest thing since sliced bread. [ Just as long as one kept thepens from drying up.] /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dmccarty · Aug 11, 2004

Last week I received my tax bill for my land. My land is set up in 4 to 5 acre lots that have been surveyed and deeded for decades. The plot is in the deeds officed. That is where I got my copies.

We are selling one lot which according to the survey is 5.33 acres. The new tax bill has the lot size at 5.1 acres. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

All of the tax bills, I get a bill for each lot, differs from the survey. When I bought the land years ago the bills and survey pretty much matched. A few lots may have differed by a .01 or so. Not big deal. No they are off by .2, .3, or more.

Now I know the county did not survey the land. The only thing I can think of is that they did a photo survey and based on it they changed the lot sizes. Since the lot size is small I suppose my tax bill is less. But since we are trying to sell the land there is now a discrepency.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have seen surveyors really screw up and move corner stakes for no other reason than that they could not get the stake to go into the ground due to rocks.....

Later,
Dan

MikePA · Aug 11, 2004

Fortunetly there was an electric eraser. Used to put chalk dust on the linen to keep from sticking to it. 
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif When I started working for my FIL his office already had AC but he told me of the times they had to wear sleeve protectors to keep from sweating on the drawings. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The LeRoy Lettering Kit was actually a very nice product. Sure beat freehand lettering...at least for me. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

cowboydoc · Aug 11, 2004

My land that is by roads will usually be off from the survey a couple acres. I was told that your land actually goes to the middle of the road. What is considered county road you are not charged tax on.

slowrev · Aug 11, 2004

Hmm, in many cities you must care for the sidewalk in front of your house and the grass strip on the outside, You own and pay tax on it, but can't use it for any thing else. What a good deal for the city /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dmccarty · Aug 11, 2004

Richard,

Now that is food for thought. Our road is a private road and we the owners are responsible for its upkeep. The county/state have no ownership or reasponsbilities at all on the road. The lot lines do go out into the middle of the road.

The last valuation was most certainly done before I bought the land. In the mean time I have cleared the road that had been over grown with trees. Before I cleaned things up the road had been abandoned for 20 years and the trees had closed off the road. The road looked like a trail going through the woods. Now the road looks like a road and a couple of houses have been built. I know the county had photos taken from aircraft a couple of years ago.

Sooooo, maybe the photos show a road where before it looked like a trail and they are subtracting the road acreage....

I really want to ask the county but I'm afraid!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I don't want the higher taxes but I'm sure I'll ask anyway.

MikePA · Aug 11, 2004

I was told that your land actually goes to the middle of the road. 
True. Deed descriptions go to the middle of the road and the county, state, etc. have an X foot right of way on either side.