Read about and
download the ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey
Specifications
Our services include:
Land Title Surveys
Boundary Surveys
Topographic Surveys
GPS Surveys
Mapping
GIS Consultation
GIS Data Capture
Elevation Certificates |
There
are many variations in the requirements for a land survey. Taking a "one size fits
all" approach is not cost effective, and may not fulfill your needs. When contacting
your land surveyor, it is very important that you both understand the scope of the survey.
Problems can arise when a survey is requested if there is any ambiguity in the request. Take for instance the term "pin survey". This
is a relatively common request, but a misleading one. A pin survey does not mean the same
thing to everyone.
A property owner who wishes to erect a fence may ask for a pin survey so that he can be
certain of the fence's location. All he needs is for the property corners to be located
and marked with monuments.
Another example might be a real estate agent who calls and asks for a pin survey because
the buyer wants to see if there are any encroachments. A pin survey is specifically asked
for because the corners would not be ordinarily located for a residential property
transaction.
In some such circumstances, a pin survey
is requested, but the survey needed is one that will allow for the standard survey
exception to be removed from the title insurance policy.
This is just one example. As the complexity increases, so does the potential for
misunderstandings. Clearly written specifications are the best way to ensure that the
survey fits the need and is priced accordingly.
In order to address this particular issue, the American Land Title Association and
the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping have created a set of specifications that
can be used in requesting a survey with a clearly defined scope of work. These
specifications are known as the ALTA / ACSM Survey Specifications.
The most current revision of these specifications is dated October of 1999.
Because land and boundary laws differ
from state to state, there are state specific standards which must be followed in addition
to specifications requested by the client. |
