Building a home or any other value-adding structure on your property can become stressful and expensive. Budget-crunching gets attractive, but property surveys often aren’t a cost you can cut. The fact is most municipalities require some form of land survey during the building permit process for a variety of reasons. And if they don’t need it, then your architect, designer, or even your bank may need one before your project gets their green light.
Land Surveys When Building a House
Even recently completed surveys you already have may not meet required criteria for your upcoming project, whether that’s just building a gazebo or you’re adding an in-law cabin to your ample property. Does the specific kind of survey really matter that much, you ask?
When folks use the term “land survey,” think of it like discussing pizza.
Of course, you know what pizza is, loosely, but what you generically call pizza might be Chicago deep-dish, Naples-style, Roman pizza, or even “Winnipeg-style,” believe it or not. Each kind has distinct qualities, and when you want what you want, there’s no way a thin-crust pizza will satisfy a craving for deep-dish Chicago pie.
Similarly, “land survey” often refers to an array of property-related services and documentation that can be used for all sorts of specific purposes. There are Tree Surveys which you may need for establishing a removal or conservation plan for trees affected by your proposed improvements. Perhaps you need a Building Location Certificate to establish the current layout before planners approve your modifications or a bank rubber-stamps your mortgage. You may need a Topographic Survey for design purposes or the newly-implemented Storm Water Management Plan required by the Township of Langley.
These are just a few of the many surveying services we offer that meets the public’s needs.
Each may sound similar, but they all offer different perspectives relevant to the project at hand.
For instance, a Topographic Survey may seem a little over-the-top to you when it breaks down the literal lay of your land, but it’s invaluable to architects, designers, and civil engineers. These plans, which represent the land in 3-dimensions, are normally surveyed utilizing terrestrial data using Total Stations,GPS, and other methods of capturing all the characteristics of your property. This may include infrastructure elements like utility pipes and telephone poles, how the land drains, and whether there are any property encroachments to address.
But is that what you need? Perhaps not. There could be a survey package that better suits what your job requires.
Land Surveys Answer Questions
From where your true property boundaries are through to how the land slopes, varying styles of land surveys are all tools designed to help you make the best decisions, all while protecting your investment going forward.
When you’re building a home, it’s potentially the largest investment you’ll ever make. A property survey may be required by municipal planners for your building permit, but as a homeowner, a comprehensive analysis of your property could be profoundly beneficial.
How will the land drain when storm season hits? Does your existing documentation reflect the true property boundaries? How will existing infrastructure both above and below ground impact your plans? These are all questions that property surveys can answer.
When you’re spending money on improvements, a survey helps you have confidence that you’re making smart choices. Beyond that, surveys help resolve zoning matters, if any arise, and serve as a document of record for selling your home down the road. A land survey is critical in future land disputes as well, especially as nearby properties change hands or other developments begin.
Depending on your needs, survey prices vary. Generally, the more detail you want, the more work is involved; the prices reflect this.
If you’re wondering what options exist and are best for you, we’re happy to answer your questions. We’ve taken the lay of the land in the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland for over 75 years. Working with us, you quickly see why homeowners have trusted Isaak, Osman & Associates with their homes for decades.