Land surveying is a key aspect of any residential or commercial development. This practice allows landowners to confirm boundary lines, identify important features of a property, and protect their property rights. Therefore, whether you’re involved in a real estate transaction or plan to build on property you already own, it’s wise to hire a professional land surveyor before you break any ground. However, you must first know which type of survey you need. Below are a few of the most common options and an explanation of the purpose they serve.

What Type of Land Survey Do You Require?

Topographic

Topographic surveys help locate the natural and manmade features of a property, such as elevations, land contours, trees, waterways, embankments, building, fences, utilities, and roads. This kind of survey is typically required by government entities and municipal institutions and is often conducted by civil engineering companies. Architects and engineers may also use a topographic survey to assist with designs for site development.

Boundary

A boundary survey is utilized to help verify the precise boundary lines of a piece of land. To accomplish this, land surveyors set up landmarks to clearly define where one property ends and the adjacent one begins. Boundary surveys are frequently necessary for settling neighbor disputes and obtaining building permits.

ALTA/ACSM

Land surveyors generally complete ALTA/ACSM surveys to satisfy the requirements of a lending institution when financing the purchase of a commercial property. Essentially, this is a more comprehensive type of survey that combines the elements from boundary and topographic surveys. These surveys are intended to cover all the characteristics of a property and must follow strict standards set forth by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

Having a land survey performed can protect you from any future legal issues that might arise and impact your investment. Offering more than 40 years of experience, the land surveyors at Abercrombie & Associates, Inc. have helped numerous clients throughout Cincinnati, OH, get a successful start on their residential, commercial, and municipal land development projects. They have established a solid reputation for providing accurate reporting using the latest tools and technology. Call (513) 385-5757 for help determining what type of land survey you require, or visit them online to learn more about the various services they specialize in.