What Is A Survey?
A survey locates upon the ground that land which your deed describes.
The following are some different types of surveys:

Boundary Survey:
A survey for the express purpose of locating, describing, monumenting, and mapping the exact boundaries and corners of a given parcel of land. This involves record and field research, field measurements, and computations with the findings shown on a survey plat that is given to the land owner. A description may also be required for purposes of recording a new deed.

Title Survey:
A survey which meets the specific needs for title insurance. The survey plat must show particular information discovered from measurements taken at the site, and not necessarily evidenced by public record.

Subdivision Survey:
A survey for the division of any lot or tract of land into smaller lots, with monumentation and a subdivision plat conforming to the governing ordinances including boundary descriptions for new deeds as required.

Topographic Survey:
A survey locating natural and man-made features such as elevations, countours of land, streams, buildings, fences, etc.

A combination of boundary and topographic surveying is used for design and construction of roads, subdivisions, etc.

Who Is A Surveyor?
For a person to practice surveying in Ohio, he/she must be licensed and registered under the laws of the State of Ohio as a Professional Surveyor.

Results of every survey must be shown by the surveyor on a plat as required by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

When Do You Need A Survey?
A survey should be performed when any of the following situations arises:

     • The title to land is to be transferred and the land is not clearly defined by plat, description, or location on the surface of the earth

     • Land is to be divided by land contract, will, deed, court order, or desire of the owner

     • Land is to be improved by the construction of buildings, roads, fences, lakes, etc.

     • There is a boundary dispute between you and your neighbor or you believe someone is encroaching on your land

     • There is reason to believe the description, plat, or the location of any property line or corner is incorrect

What Does A Survey Cost?
The cost of a survey depends on several things including the type of survey needed, the time required to perform the survey, and the preparation of necessary plats and descriptions. Some variables which affect the cost of a land survey are:

Terrain and Accessibility:
A level, open field is much easier to survey than a wooded, hilly tract of land

Time of Year:
Dense vegatation in summer often restricts the line of sight. Snow in winter may conceal field evidence

Size and Shape:
An irregularly shaped tract of land has more corners and a longer perimeter than a square containing the same area

Field Evidence:
The presence of iron monuments, corner stones, etc. in the survey area aid the surveyor; their absence makes the survey more difficult

Deeds:
At times, the legal description of the property to be surveyed may be vague, incomplete, contradictory, and/or mathematically inaccurate. It may also be necessary to resolve an unrecorded deed, agreement, or easement.