Before purchasing a property, most homeowners will have a detailed home inspection and value assessment performed on the house, so they have an idea of what they’re investing in. A majority of the time, those same prospective buyers will have only a vague idea of the boundaries of the land that the house sits on. For most folks, their “home” will be the biggest financial investment in their life and they don’t even really know what they own.
If someone asked you to pay them a quarter of a million dollars for a house that’s in good condition with a yard that’s somewhere between the road and that brook over there… and probably the fence on that property and maybe that large maple tree in the back… would you take their word for it?
In some states, an up to date boundary survey is not just recommended, it’s required when buying, selling, subdividing, improving or building on a parcel of land.
How much will it cost to survey your property?
It’s almost impossible to determine an exact cost, there are a dozen variables involved with any boundary survey. Give us a call at 802.229.9138 and we’ll be happy to talk about your situation and give you an estimate.
What is a boundary survey?
It involves the establishment or re-establishment of property boundaries based on deeds and other historical records and how they line up with physical evidence and historical evidence.
The process begins with deed research. A trip to the Town Clerk for a thorough search of deeds, maps, court records, and other pertinent documents is required in order to discover the true history of a parcel of land. Depending on the number of previous owners, various parcel additions, conveyances out, or subdivisions, research can account for a significant portion of our work.
After a description of the property has been established, physical evidence is located and mapped in the field. Existing iron pins and pipes, rock cairns, fences, stone walls, blazed trees, buildings, etc. play a big part in the survey but they may not define the historical description of the property.
The physical evidence and documentation will then be analyzed and an opinion can be formed as to the true location of property corners and boundaries. A preliminary plat will be drawn up and a survey crew will set any undocumented property corners.
Upon conclusion, a final plat suitable for recording will be produced. We suggest that the clients record the plat with their Town or City Clerk, which serves to preserve the plat and put the public on notice regarding your boundary.