What is a typical survey and how much will it cost?

The most common type of survey is called a Boundary Survey. This is the type a property owner may request when they need to find their property lines and/or set their property corners. The following steps will be taken by our licensed and registered land surveyor to create a typical Boundary Survey:

1. Research: The surveyor will obtain copies of the tax map, aerial map, survey records and deeds of the subject tract and surrounding properties. Most of this research can now be done over the internet, however some county records are not yet online. The surveyor will then look over these records and based on his findings, will determine the approximate cost of the survey. Research usually takes 1 to 2 hours.

2. Field Work: Armed with this information, the 2-person field crew will go to the site and locate existing monuments (iron pipe, wagon axle, gun barrel, whisky bottle filled with charcoal, rake harrow teeth, rock marked with an "X"). Some of these monuments may be missing or buried as they may have been set over a century ago. The crew will then take measurements of the property, do field calculations and set random access points for future reference. The crew will return to the site after the map is created, to verify final monument location, set the property corners and set stakes for fencing, (if required). Estimated time required for this is 8 to 24 hours, depending on the size and terrain of the surveyed property.

3. Calculations and Drafting: In the office, the surveyor will analyze the field data, compare legal descriptions, calculate the data, and draft the survey map. The general rule of thumb is that for every crew field hour, the office spends two hours on the survey. The map is then reviewed, stamped and signed by our licensed Land Surveyor, then sent to the county surveyor’s office for review, along with the review fee. (The fee varies per county, anywhere from $200 to $400.) The county surveyor’s office usually requests some minor changes, called "redlines". These changes are made and the final map is then sent to the county surveyor’s office. Estimated time for the drafting of a typical Boundary Survey map is 12 to 32 hours. 

Currently, the cost for a typical Boundary Survey runs around $1,800 to $2,500 plus the review fee for the County Surveyor.