WHY YOU NEED TO Have a Land Survey Completed Before Purchasing Land
Buying land, whether commercial or residential, is always an expensive endeavor, even though prices have eased somewhat lately. This is the reason finding a piece of land that you like and making an offer for it without conducting a land survey on the area is possibly the biggest mistake that you could make.
Here's why it is rather important that you have land surveying done first:
Land surveyors can determine if you are actually getting what you are going to pay for. This implies find out if the sidewalks, trees, driveways and even the bird bath is area of the property you're about to buy. Land surveying would also determine whether the neighbors are encroaching in to the property, which may then mean you are going to have problems down the road with your neighbors.
Hiring a land surveyor doesn't only mean they determine what you are getting or not getting - land surveyors are the experts, and they can help with building regulations, wetland regulations, etc. Take https://castlesurveys.co.uk/ that these regulations can transform anytime, but land surveyors ought to be updated on these regulations, or they will refer you to someone who is.
What if the existing landowner (the one selling the land) can provide you with old land survey documents? You need to still hire your personal land surveyor determine if the boundary monuments are still in place. Also, land surveying done a couple of years back might not show recent changes to the land. If the prevailing survey is older than about ten years, you need to get a totally new survey. Technology and surveying standards are both better now and should supply you more confidence in the survey work.
Second, that survey was completed for that owner. He might have instructed the surveyor not to show certain things on the drawing. At least have a land surveyor go out and review the parcel with this particular survey in hand. We've seen numerous cases where a new land survey would save the buyer thousands so don't become a victim.
I've heard lots of people say hiring a land surveyor is only unnecessary expense. I'll let you know what's unnecessary: the strain caused by paying thousands for something and finding yourself not getting what you were expecting. When you are smart, you'd hire a certified land surveyor before making any land purchases. Believe me, it's all worth it and you would be glad you had the land surveyed.