FAQ
Answers before you ever have to call
The questions clients ask us most, answered up front.
Cost & Timelines
How much does a survey cost?+
Every property is different, so rather than post ranges that may not fit your situation, we quote each job individually. Each service page lists what drives the cost up or down — submit a quote request and we'll send pricing specific to your property.
How long will my survey take?+
It varies by survey type and property. Rather than guess, we send you a schedule along with your quote so you know what to plan around.
Do you offer rush service?+
Yes, when our schedule allows — tell us your deadline when you request a quote and we'll let you know what's possible.
What to Expect
Do I need to be home when you survey my property?+
No, but it can help to point out anything you're unsure about (a fence, a shed, a disputed line) beforehand. Our crew can access most sites without you present.
How are property corners marked?+
We set capped rebar at property corners. Where a corner falls in a hard surface like pavement, we set a magnail instead.
What should I do to prepare for a survey?+
Clear obvious brush from likely corner areas if you can do so safely, have any prior survey or deed paperwork handy, and let us know about any known boundary concerns when you request your quote.
Survey Types
What's the difference between a boundary survey and a plot plan?+
See our full comparison — in short, a plot plan is faster and lighter-weight, while a boundary survey sets and marks your actual legal corners.
Do I need an ALTA survey for a residential purchase?+
Almost never — ALTA/NSPS surveys are built for commercial transactions. Residential buyers typically need a boundary survey or plot plan instead.
What Can Go Wrong (and How We Handle It)
Missing or disturbed property corners
Old iron pins get buried, mowed over, or pulled out during landscaping and construction over the years. When corners can't be found, we reconstruct them from deed research and physical evidence — which takes longer than a survey where the original monuments are intact.
Boundary disputes with neighbors
Fences, tree lines, and 'where I always thought the line was' often don't match the recorded legal description. A licensed survey settles the question with documented evidence rather than opinion.
Weather and access delays
Field work depends on being able to safely walk and measure a site. Heavy snow, flooding, or dense overgrowth can push back a survey timeline — we'll always tell you up front if conditions are likely to cause a delay.
Outdated or conflicting legal descriptions
Older deeds sometimes describe a property in ways that no longer match modern measurement methods or adjoining surveys. Resolving these conflicts is part of what a licensed surveyor is trained to do.
Comparisons
Boundary Survey vs. Plot Plan vs. ALTA Survey — which do you need?
A plot plan or site plan is the lightest-weight option, and it's what you need for permits for buildings — it shows where a structure sits relative to the lot and its setbacks. A boundary survey is the right choice when you need certainty about your legal property lines, with corners set and marked in the field. An ALTA/NSPS survey is the most comprehensive option, combining boundary, improvements, and title research into one document — required for most commercial real estate transactions. If you're not sure which one your situation calls for, tell us what you're trying to accomplish (a permit, a sale, a dispute, financing) and we'll point you to the right one.
Why a county GIS map isn't the same as a survey
County GIS/parcel viewer maps are built for tax assessment, not legal precision — they're often off by several feet or more and aren't based on a licensed field survey. They're a fine starting point for research, but they can't be used to settle a boundary question or satisfy a lender, title company, or building department the way a licensed survey can.