Getting Started

The first step of any new survey job is to meet with the client and/or their agents.  
We want to make sure that we have a clear understanding of what the clients' needs are, but also try to "look ahead" to make sure that the project will not get "tied up" with government red tape in the future.  After getting some basic information, an estimated price of an "average" survey can be given. 

How a survey is started...

It is very important that the ownership, use by others (easements and right of ways), and restrictions of use (restrictive convenance, zoning, subdivision regulatons, environmental restrictions, etc.) is researched before any survey work is begun.  Restrictions of use can have a very big impact on property and can lead to much future frustration for landowners.

These uses and documents are retrieved at the local  Register of Deeds, County websites (GIS and ROD), and County Planning/Environmental Health Departments. Some documents have to be supplied by the client. 

After the research is done, a computer Cad drawing of the subject property and all surrounding properties can be built using the recorded plats and deeds.  This will help to generate coordinates for the field work. 

The next step is to visit the property, investigate the site conditions (wooded, open, rough terrain, creeks), and find the existing property corners.  It is a big help to have someone there that has knowledge of the property and its history, especially if the deed description is vague or the plat is old.

Although there are many different types of surveys, most of them are based on a Boundary Survey.  Now is a good time to review the field data and the clients' needs.