The need for land surveying is usually not considered by most people when they plan to construct or sell their properties. This can result in delays, extra costs and conflicts that could have easily been prevented.

An expert land surveyor provides accurate information about a property’s dimensions, boundaries, buildings and topographical features. Such information will help decision makers base their actions on facts.

Below are seven occasions when consulting an expert land surveyor makes all the difference.

1. You Are Unsure Where Your Property Ends

Fences, walls, hedge rows, and driveways may not always coincide with the registered boundaries of the property. They could have been set up in the past using approximations based on visual judgment or agreements between prior property owners.

An accurate survey can confirm your property’s true boundary lines. This is especially essential if you are planning on building a new fence or a wall, or doing any landscaping near a neighboring property.

Confirming the boundary first can help prevent accidental encroachment and unnecessary disputes.

2. You Are Planning an Extension or New Building

Prior to erecting a building, a garage, fence, swimming pool or rooms, there must be accurate data for the site.

A land surveyor can position the proposed building accurately within the property boundaries and approved plans. There may even be differences in ground levels that would require some consideration in the planning and construction process.

This makes it easy to have accurate data for planning and construction.

3. You Notice a Possible Boundary Encroachment

Even a small encroachment by a fence, wall, building or driveway may cross your property boundary.

A simple observation of the property will not show whether any encroachment exists since only the surveyor knows the position of the boundary line in relation to the structures.

It is always easier to resolve the matter before a conflict arises.

4. Your Property Plans Do Not Match Reality

Previous plans will not necessarily account for all structures that currently exist within a property. There might be changes to buildings in the form of additions and rearrangement, while there might also be changes to walls, paths, and services.

When such drawings fail to correspond with the actual reality of the site, then a survey will ensure that there is an accurate account of what is there now.

This is useful when it comes to renovating a property, managing a property, producing drawings for the property or maintaining the property in the future.

5. You Are Buying or Selling Property

A property transaction is a substantial financial undertaking. The purchaser might be seeking more assurances about the nature of his purchase, while the seller needs to sort out uncertainties prior to marketing his property.

The function of surveying includes verification of boundaries, identification of any potential encroachments and giving an assurance about the location of structures on the property.

Not all property transactions will demand similar extents of surveying, but it may be useful to seek expert opinion to ascertain if more information is required. This can save trouble in future.

6. Construction Work Is Not Following the Plans

The slightest misalignment or levelling may turn into something significant as the construction progresses. Miscalculated foundations, buildings erected wrongly or even services installed wrongly can lead to costly reworkings.

It will be within the surveyor’s power to find out if all of the essential components are in the correct alignment, based on the design plan. These tests will give builders and project managers the chance to discover discrepancies before the next stage.

Independent measurements will serve as a reference when there is any confusion between the members of the project team.

7. You Need Accurate Information About a Large Site

Measurement of large parcels, construction sites, and development lands may prove difficult when trying to use estimation techniques or basic methods for measurement.

Modern surveying equipment is capable of gathering all the necessary information about the levels of the ground, buildings, roads, stock piles, and natural land formations. Depending on the work that needs to be done, surveyors may use GPS, total stations, or aerial surveys to get the job done.

This information will form the basis for design, planning, and construction activities.

Do Not Wait for a Problem to Appear

Surveying is not just about solving issues with property or building errors. This is a process that will decrease the level of uncertainties prior to decision making.

Consulting a professional surveyor at the initial stage of the process will allow you to know your site better, to be clear about all details of the process and not to rely on wrong measurements. Whatever you do – buy a piece of land, construct something, or check the existing objects on the site – accurate data will allow you to make an informed decision.

Robotic Surveys and Aerial Mapping offers professional surveying services in George, Garden Route and further in South Africa. With the use of technical knowledge and modern surveying techniques, our specialists will assist you with your projects.