In the last blog we looked at a property that abutted common ground along the rear property lines. On the back left side of the property, we had discussed the required removal of all the items that the homeowner had placed in the common ground area and how that had affected the sale of the property. In this blog we’re going to discuss the driveway that extends across the common ground. According to Missouri State statute it is illegal for a property to be landlocked, meaning that it does not have at least one point of access to the property. In today’s land of suburbs, lots are granted access ..read more

There are some amazing benefits to owning a lot that backs to common ground, the main one being that it makes it look like your backyard is huge! The problem with common ground is that it is just that… it is ground that is commonly owned by everyone in that subdivision. Which means that you should not use it for your own personal benefit. In the example that we’re addressing today, the owners of the property did not have a survey performed when they originally built the gazebo, a shed, and a play set with rock all located within the common ground. When they went to sell the property, the new b ..read more

There are times when you may need more information than what a standard boundary and improvement survey may show. You may in fact need more than just the property corners marked showing just one point along the property line. We can provide you with as much information as you would like to fit the needs of your project. A typical boundary survey drawing depicts the information that is found while field work was being performed. The information on that drawing includes items such as the house, garage, shed, fence, driveway, deck, etc. We can however show other items at the request of the homeow ..read more

Like most industries, professional land surveyors are experts in their field. However, it takes an entire team to fully execute a survey. Here is a list of the people and their roles and having a boundary survey performed. Administrative Assistant Their role is to coordinate the entire project from start to finish. They are the initial point of contact with the title company, REALTOR®, or client. They perform the initial research which often includes interaction with the county assessor and the county recorder of deeds along with the title company. Senior drafter/Professional Land Surveyor Th ..read more

NSPS is the acronym for the National Society of Professional Surveyors. There is a state association (Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors- MSPS) as well as a local chapter for Saint Louis. The NSPS merged with the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) in 2012. These organizations all strive to keep surveyors “in the know” about current legislation, technology advancements, case studies, etc. They also provide the opportunity for surveyors to network with one another and collaborate. As is the case with most professions, we all look to continue to better ourselves and remain ..read more

There are three main components of having a survey performed: research, field work, and publishing the results. There are many reasons why a survey drawing is needed when having a survey performed. Here are a few of the main points. Missouri State Statute. We produce a drawing because it’s required by law. There is a state statute in Missouri that states when a survey is performed a drawing must be produced to show the results of the survey research and field work. Going to Court. If you are going to court due to a dispute with a neighbor or some other reason, the court system is going to req ..read more

Hiring a surveyor may be a little bit more challenging than you may think. Survey companies typically specialize in different areas. Some focus on work related to the engineering field, some work in the construction field, and others work in the residential sector. Here are a few resources I would recommend when trying to find a surveyor who fits your specific needs.  Better Business Bureau. The BBB may be a good resource for you to find a surveyor. They will have the contact information along with reviews from individuals who have used that company for other projects.  Google. Th ..read more

Professional Land Surveyors play a unique role in the purchase and sale of property, regardless if it’s residential or commercial. They work hand-in-hand with title companies during the process. The role of the title company is to ensure the ability for a piece of land to be purchased and sold and then have the deed transferred from one owner to another. The title company’s work pertains to whether or not a parcel can be sold and if anyone else has an interest in that parcel. The product that they provide is insurance to protect that interest, the property. A majority of the work per ..read more

In my experience, it is not common for a mortgage company or lender to require a survey during the purchase of a real estate transaction. However, if an owner is acquiring a home equity loan to build an addition on the property, the mortgage company may require a survey to ensure that the addition is built correctly.  In today’s environment the title company and mortgage company work hand in hand to facilitate the transfer of land ownership. Historically, it was required for a survey or surveyors real property report (SRPR) to be performed on the property at the time of purchase. This was ..read more

One of the unique characteristics of an ALTA survey is the flexibility that it provides for the client. Because this is a much more intensive look at a property, there are many additional items that can be addressed by the survey. The Table A provides a list of 19 standard items that can be added to the plat or map being provided by the surveyor. Here is a list of the first nine of the items provided by Table A. Survey monuments placed or found at all corners of the property being surveyed. The address of the property as referenced in the documents provided as well as any posted information o ..read more