What is the surveying process?

• The survey company receives authorization by the property owner or a potential buyer to perform a survey by means of a signed work order form.
• A work order form is required by the State of Missouri in order for a surveyor to be on the properties needed to perform the survey without being held guilty of trespassing.
• The work order also contains the responsibilities of all parties involved
• The survey company is provided with the legal description of the property to be surveyed by the client.
• Research can be completed by the surveyor to determine the legal description, but the responsibility is the clients to provide the information to the surveyor.
• The survey company performs research and orders the subdivision plat for the property from the appropriate county court house.  If the property is being purchased, a request for the title commitment will be made.
• Subdivision plats and title commitments will show and address building lines and easements located on the property.
• The survey field crew goes to the property.
• The crew will measure the house and any permanent, non-movable, improvements
• The crew will search for subdivision survey monuments (iron pipes, rebar, cotton spindles, railroad ties, crosses, etc.) which would identify property corners, points on a curve or property line projections.
• If a Surveyors Real Property Report is being performed, a minimum of 2 survey monuments are found, but they are not verified to be correct.
• If a boundary survey is being performed, ample survey monuments are found to verify the correct location of the property corners for our property.
• The survey crew will then use a total station or similar instrument to measure distances and angles to verify the location of the house and improvements on the lot.
• With a boundary survey, all of the property’s corners are then either verified to be correct or reset if necessary and are visibly marked.
• The information from the field crew is given to a drafter who draws the information to create a “drawing” of the property.  Information is used from the subdivision plat and title work to establish lot dimensions, building lines, and easements.
• The facets of the project are reviewed by a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor.
• The final copies are delivered to the client and/or title company along with an invoice.  If a title company is involved, costs for the survey can typically be included in the buyers closing costs.

Disclaimer:

Information provided should not be considered legal advice and all buyers, agents, and title companies should consult their attorneys for legal advice.