Land Survey: What It Is, Types And Cost (2024)

1. Boundary Survey

This type of land survey is used to locate the corners and property boundary lines of a parcel of land. A boundary survey will use both recorded deeds and physical markers to define the boundary lines on a piece of land.

A boundary survey does require both record and field research. It’s typically used for personal records and locating easem*nts.

Average cost: $100 – $600

2. ALTA Survey

An American Land Title Association (ALTA) survey provides a lender and/or title company with required survey data to deliver an ALTA insurance policy. An ALTA survey is commonly done before purchasing a piece of property or investing in a new home.

Average cost: $2,000 – $3,000

3. Topographic Survey

Topographic surveys are used to understand the locations of both human-made and natural features on a parcel of land. These features may include roads, buildings, ditches, trees, streams and utilities.

This type of survey is most commonly used by architects and engineers working on property improvement plans.

Average cost: $500 – $1,200

4. As-Built Survey

An as-built survey is best for those who are planning to build a large home or work on a landscape construction project. A professional surveyor provides a three-dimensional rendering of your home using lasers. An as-built survey can provide you with interior and exterior blueprints, which are highly accurate.

Average cost: $700 – $1,300

5. Mortgage Survey

Similar to an ALTA survey, a mortgage survey is used when purchasing a home or piece of property. It verifies structures on the property, land and property title owners, and that the property meets all building and zoning codes before the purchase is made.

Average cost: $450 – $600

6. Subdivision Survey

Just like the name implies, this survey is used to divide a piece of land into smaller pieces, also called lots. A subdivision survey must be recorded by a government agency, most likely both local and state.

Average cost: $300 – $400 per lot

7. New Construction Survey

A new construction survey is necessary before establishing structures on a parcel of land, including roads, utilities and buildings. This type of survey utilizes both vertical and horizontal grading.

Vertical positions are verified by differences in elevations in comparison to a specific location on the property, which is known as the benchmark. Horizontal positions are determined by distances between structures.

Average cost: $1,000 – $1,500

Land Survey: What It Is, Types And Cost (2024)

FAQs

Land Survey: What It Is, Types And Cost? ›

Topographic Survey

This is the most common type of survey used for most types of land development. It is the primary survey used by architects for site design and planning. The purpose of a topographic survey is to note the natural and man-made features of the land.

What is the most common type of land survey? ›

Topographic Survey

This is the most common type of survey used for most types of land development. It is the primary survey used by architects for site design and planning. The purpose of a topographic survey is to note the natural and man-made features of the land.

Which type of land survey is usually the most expensive? ›

ALTA Survey

In some cases, these are also referred to as mortgage surveys because most lenders require these surveys before they will offer financing options. Typical ALTA survey rates range from between $2000-$3000, so these are among the most expensive land surveys to order.

What is the best land survey method? ›

The Most Popular Land Survey Method. The “total station” approach is the most often utilized land survey method. This method entails the use of an electrical instrument to calculate angles and distances between locations on a piece of land.

What kind of survey do I need? ›

A HomeBuyer Report (Level 2) is more basic but is the most appropriate for the majority of properties. If your property requires lots of detail and information, a Building Survey is likely to be the one you will need. This might be because it's an older property, made of unusual material, or has had major renovations.

What is the most expensive type of survey? ›

Face-to-face interviews are the most expensive survey method because you must hire and train interviewers. Mail surveys are also expensive when you consider printing and the cost of postage.

What are the 4 main types of land use? ›

The four main types of land use—residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural—each play a unique role in shaping our communities and environment. Understanding these categories helps stakeholders make informed decisions that promote sustainable growth and development.

What is the least expensive type of survey? ›

Mail Surveys
  • Mail surveys are among the least expensive.
  • This is the only kind of survey you can do if you have the names and addresses of the target population, but not their telephone numbers.
  • The questionnaire can include pictures - something that is not possible over the phone.

What is the most accurate land survey? ›

EDMs give surveyors much more accuracy than metal measurement tapes. Various surveys, such as detail surveys and a control survey, use this technology.

Is a plat better than a survey? ›

Differentiating between a land survey and a plot plan is essential, as they serve distinct purposes and offer varied information. While both provide vital information about a piece of property, a land survey offers a more comprehensive and accurate depiction of the property and its features.

How do I choose a good surveyor? ›

Check their references and reviews. As with all tradespeople and construction professionals, when deciding which surveyor to hire, make sure you check out their reviews and ratings online. You can also ask for references from previous customers that you can follow up to check the quality of the property surveyor's work ...

What are the four types of surveys? ›

The Most Common Types of Surveys
  • Online Surveys. Online surveys are one of the most popular types of surveys and for good reason. ...
  • Paper Surveys. ...
  • Mail Surveys. ...
  • Telephone Surveys. ...
  • In-Person Surveys. ...
  • Panel Surveys. ...
  • Focus Group Surveys.
Jun 13, 2023

How long does a full survey take? ›

How long does the survey take to complete and when will you receive the survey report? The surveyor will take around 1-4 hours to complete the physical survey of your home, depending on the size and type of property. Full structural surveys which are more in-depth, can take anywhere between 3-8 hours to complete.

What can I use instead of a survey? ›

This page suggests just a few ideas. Focus groups, interviews, conversations — These face-to-face techniques can be structured to provide very useful information; they may also allow for probing and follow-up to capture nuances very difficult to learn with a traditional survey.

How much does a full structural survey cost? ›

RICS Home Survey Level 3 – also known as a building survey or full structural survey – is the most thorough survey offered by RICS. Full structural surveys are more expensive, ranging from around £630 to £1,500 – or even more – depending on the value of the property.

What is the most popular type of survey? ›

1. Online surveys: One of the most popular types is an online survey.

Which of the following is the most common type of survey? ›

Online surveys are the most common form of survey used today.

Which type of land and survey system is most commonly used in most states today? ›

The rectangular survey system is comprised of principal meridian lines that cover most states in the US, running north to south and baselines running east to west.

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