Whether you’re buying a house, putting up a fence, or building a shed, land surveying provides vital information that can prevent costly disputes with your neighbors later. Unfortunately, common misunderstandings and bad advice lead many property owners to bypass the survey process, potentially leading to lawsuits with expensive consequences. Here are some of the most common misconceptions you might have heard about land surveys.

3 Common Surveying Myths

An old survey is good enough.

Property lines and structures don’t move over time, so many property owners believe they can rely on previous surveys. However, technological revolutions in recent years have made land surveys much more accurate, so using an older report can still lead to legal problems. In the future, if a neighbor hires a surveyor using modern GPS and other technological tools, you’ll be held responsible if a project accidentally encroaches onto their property.

The fence represents the property line.

While previous owners might have hired a surveying professional before building a fence, they might have relied on guesswork or a verbal agreement with their neighbors. In fact, that fence could be constructed several feet over the property line, so it’s always best to get an objective assessment before doing any new construction on your land.

Skipping the survey saves money.

Not hiring a surveying company might shave a few hundred dollars off of your construction costs, but it could cost even more in the long run. If your fence or other building crosses the boundary line, you may have to tear it down and rebuild, which could potentially cost thousands of dollars.

Since 1996, Hart-Frederick Consultants PC has provided expert surveying and civil engineering services for residential and commercial clients throughout the Tiffin, IA, area. No matter what type of project you’re planning, you can rely on their professionals for prompt, friendly service and highly accurate results. Visit their website for more on their broad range of services, follow their Facebook page for tips and advice, or call (319) 545-7215 to discuss your project and request an estimate.