The property survey cost is determined by a number of factors. We will briefly attempt to highlight some of these factors and provide some helpful information on the cost of a property survey.
Getting a Property Survey
It is actually quite easy to get a survey estimate from a professional land surveyor. All that is required is a copy of your deed and a surveyor will be able to draw up an estimate depending on the time and effort it will take to survey your property. As with many estimates, a surveyor will probably assume a scenario with the most time it would take and give an estimate on the high side. As a result, your final property survey cost could be a bit lower than the estimate given.
Factors for Property Survey Cost
Below is a list of the primary factors that will affect the cost of a property survey.
- Ease of access to property – This includes the distance from the land surveyor’s office to the job site and ease of accessing property due to terrain. The further a surveyor has to travel to get to your property, the higher the cost will be. In addition, if the property terrain is rough and difficult and takes time to navigate and access, the property survey cost will reflect this.
- Existence of property markers – If your property has general boundary line markers such as stones, trees, or fences, it will be much easier for a surveyor to measure your property and replicate any previous surveys.
- Time of year – Weather conditions can affect a surveyor who is attempting to survey your property. Obviously winter conditions can present challenges and increase cost but in addition thick summer foliage can also inhibit property measurements increasing time and cost.
- Terrain – Land with a lot of elevation changes can be more difficult and time consuming to survey than flat land.
- Research of existing records – If existing records are clear and complete, this will save time for the surveyor. However, if records are unclear or contain complications that a surveyor may have to address then the property survey cost may be higher.
- Property shape – Odd shaped land parcels are generally more difficult to survey and take more time while simple rectangular plots of land are easier and take less time.
- Impediments – Anything that may get in the way of surveying equipment such as trees and brush and that impedes line of sight will add to the time it takes to survey a piece of land. In some cases, these impediments may have to be removed adding time and cost.
- Location – Obviously there will be some variation in the property survey cost in different regions, states, and local areas due to cost of labor.
With all of these factors, it is almost impossible to give a property survey cost estimate without knowing some of the details of a parcel of land. Just be sure you keep the above factors in mind when getting a land survey cost estimate so that you can determine if the estimated cost sounds reasonable.