Hiring a land surveyor is often a requirement, and sometimes it’s just a good idea. If an individual has plans to purchase real estate, particularly if it is a vacant lot, using the services of a land surveyor is the best way to ensure a smart investment is made.
The right surveyor can help individuals determine where, exactly, they should build. They can also ensure new buyers don’t accidentally encroach on the neighbor’s property, along with other issues.
If a person has never used the services of a land surveyor before, they may wonder how to find the right one. Keep reading for some tips on how to do this and find the right land surveyor for the job.
Get Recommendations
While a smart move is simply calling Cochran Engineering, to begin with, some steps can be taken to find the right surveyor. The first is to get recommendations.
Anyone searching for a land surveyor can ask people they know, including the title agency or real estate agent who they would recommend. These are the professionals that often interact with the land surveyors in the local area.
This interaction may allow them to refer someone to a reliable and local company.
Check the Surveyor’s Qualifications
Due to the complexity and skill involved in any land surveying project, regulations and laws dictate that the practice is only done by those who are licensed as a surveyor. It’s up to the person hiring this service to check and see if the surveyor is licensed.
For the state of Missouri, those looking for a licensed surveyor can visit the Missouri Division of Professional Registration to determine if the service they are interested in has met the requirements. To do this, use the “Licensee Search” feature at the top of the page.
Ask About Past Experience
It’s essential to contact a surveyor and find out if they have worked on projects similar to the one needed in the past. Make sure to ask about the expected timeline and cost of the project.
To receive a detailed cost estimate, knowing the details is a must. Make sure to know the location, the size of the land, and the type of survey that needs to be done.
Consider the Value
The majority of people that need land surveying done are going to be concerned about the cost of the project. This is understandable; however, it’s important to find a surveyor that offers reliable service, a good reputation, and plenty of experience.
Remember, the cost of the land surveyor is often just a fraction of the entire real estate transaction. This means a person should not skimp when it comes to cost — in some cases, having a proper survey done can save a person time, money, and headaches over time.
Ask the Right Questions
After finding several surveyors in the local area, it’s a good idea to contact each one and let them know about the type of project planned. During this initial discussion, make sure to ask the right questions.
One of the first things to ask is about the types of marking tools and monument types offered. A reliable and licensed professional should recommend the highest quality monuments and markers or support the request of a client to use high-quality metal equipment.
It’s also a good idea to make sure that the licensing the surveyor has is current and that it hasn’t expired. This is a crucial factor.
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is failing to ask the right questions or basing their decision on the cost quoted by the surveyor. Make sure this mistake isn’t made.
Request References
For every land surveyor considered, it’s a good idea to ask for references from past customers. Don’t just get names and phone numbers of these individuals, use them.
Take some time to contact several of the references given to see what they have to say about the surveyor, the services they provided, and how satisfied they were with the final results. Remember though, most surveyors (and any professional service, for that matter) is going to make sure to give potential clients happy customers to contact.
This means a person may also have to do a bit of research on their own. This research needs to include looking at online reviews from past customers and clients and seeing if there are images of the projects done.
All this information needs to be gathered, aggregated and considered. It’s going to help ensure the final decision is made.
The Use of Drones
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are commonly used to help improve the safety of construction work sites. However, they can also be used in the land surveying industry.
By using UAVs, surveyors can reach areas they may not be able to on foot. While helicopters are commonly used for this too, these aircraft have to remain at certain heights to ensure the safety of the crew.
With a UAV, this isn’t the case. Modern UAVs can fly close to the ground, which allows surveyors to capture more details about the terrain being surveyed.
It’s a good idea to find out if the surveyor or company being considered uses UAVs, as these can help to reduce costs, improve safety, and ensure a more accurate survey of the property in question is done. After all, they don’t require a crew for operation.
If there is a choice, and two surveyors are matched in everything but one offers UAV technology, and the other doesn’t, choosing the company with the UAVs is always best.
Finding the Right Surveyor: It’s Not an Impossible Task
The process of finding the right surveyor for a specific job isn’t extremely difficult; however, it does require time and effort. Make sure to remember this when searching for this service professional.
Considering all the factors here can help ensure the right person for the job is found and used. Being informed is the best way to hire the right service professional, regardless of what their specialty is.