Why you should pay for a lot line survey.

What is a lot line survey? A lot line survey is a service that exactly measures the location of the lot-lines for a piece of land. The lot lines are the boundaries where you land ends and your neighbor’s begins. Knowing where your lot ends and theirs begins is just a part of being a good neighbor.

In the city or suburbs a surveyor can cost somewhere between $400 and $1,000; but like everything in life the cost is negotiable, so shop around. For that price they will stake out the lot lines and corners of your property with wood stakes and metal survey pins. Always ask for the surveyor to place the survey pins in each corner and then add cement around the top of each pin. You can buy the cement at any hardware store and mix it on a small piece of plywood.

You might wonder, why spend the money?

Because it can save you a lot of money knowing where your ownership begins and ends. 

What can possibly go wrong?

I will give you three examples of how not having a survey can get your embroiled with the legal system and lawyers. And remember where there are lawyers there are legal fees and an uncertain outcome. 

Example 1: I bought a cabin in Northern Minnesota. My neighbors and I all got along wonderfully. We fished and barbecued fish and steaks together. We still today have a great relationship, but when I went to sell my cabin the buyers conditioned the sale on a lot line survey. The survey showed my neighbor’s garage was over the lot line. The buyers wanted it removed and the neighbor balked, but I had another idea, which the offending neighbor wasn't too happy about, but accepted to avoid having to tear down a four stall garage and boat house. We moved the lot line at the shoreline by ten feet and then wiggled the lot line around his offending garage. That way my buyer got ten feet more of shoreline and the neighbor got to keep his garage. 

RESULT: The offending garage owner had to pay for the legal work to make it all legal and he had to give up some land.

Example 2: My home is in a nice neighborhood. My second wife wanted to build a swimming pool. I ordered a survey and discovered the neighbor to our south had his swimming pool fence, landscaping and drainage slurry over the lot line and into my yard. The litigation has been ongoing for over ten years. There is no end in sight. The offending owner sold his home to a new owner and they understand less than the previous owners did. 

RESULT: No resolution.

Example 3: This story is an example of even with a survey, mistakes can be made, but at least you have someone to sue when it does. My son who attends Creighton School of Law sent me this story out of Florida. These folks in Missouri wanted to build their dream home in Florida. They hired a builder who built the 5,300 square foot beach house, but on the wrong lot. Ouch! You surveyors best get out your checkbooks. 

RESULT: No resolution at the time the story was reported in 2014.

My advice before buying or building, get the survey and then read it.

Who is Steve Lombardi? Steve Lombardi is a lawyer and a real estate broker in Iowa. He represents a limited number of buyers for the sheer pleasure of helping people find just the right home for a good price. His business is not about quantity, but quality. His clients stay involved in the search using the Internet to scout out just the right home and at a fair price. He is a lawyer and a real estate broker and so you get the full package for half what it would otherwise cost you. If you would like his help in finding the right home and want to do some of your own research, then contact him. If he isn't helping someone already then you are in luck.