What is a survey?
Your purchase of a home or real estate may be the largest single investment of your life. Having the assurances and protection of a Land Survey, by a Licensed Professional, will mean tremendous peace of mind, and can be performed at a fraction of the cost of correcting any mistakes later.
You may believe that a casual inspection of your property will be sufficient to determine it's boundaries and assure that all buildings, fences, wells, garages and other improvements on both your and your neighbor's land are properly located. If you buy or improve property without an accurate and recent Land Survey, you may later discover that your house or addition, or the fence you built is partially located on your neighbor's property. Or you could discover that your driveway crosses someone else's property without a proper easement. These problems can be avoided or discovered by first having a Land Survey performed.
A Land Survey is the measurement, by a Licensed Surveyor, of real property that shows all boundaries and existing features of a tract of land within the guidelines of State Law and Professional Organizations. A Land Survey should show and include a location and description of all property corners and boundaries, all physical improvements, means of access from a public right-of-way, location and description of any fences along or near your boundaries and any other physical and visible matters which could affect your use and enjoyment of your property.
Don't rely in haste on just any drawing someone may have given you as a survey. Some drawings, while looking very professional, lack important information and background work that a proper Land Survey would include. Looks can be deceiving and it is up to you to make sure you have a proper Land Survey.
If you have any questions about your survey as to it's completeness, accuracy, or background, ask your Land Surveyor! He should not mind explaining and answering all of your questions.