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Owners of land act as temporary stewards forthe land. They cannot outlive the land andeventually must pass it on to future generationsto use. Being responsiDle for the welfare ofour future is what land ownershipis all about.

COMPLIMENTS OF:

Your surveyor will assist you in determiningwhat type of survey you need for a particularsituation.

What Types of Surveys are There?

Boundary ConstructionTopographic SubdivisionControl Court ExhibitO.PS. A.L.T.A.

Mortgage Septic SystemPlot Plan Flood CertificationFootinglFoundation Certification

Your Land Surveyor is a Valuable Resourceof Information About Land and Its Uses

A land surveyor deals regularly with landinformation and records, so quite often has alarge collection of information used in previoussurveys, knows where to get the informationyou need, or can help you to determine whatinformation you do need.

Utilizing the Services of a Land Surveyor

Published by

The New Hampshire Land Surveyors AssociationP.O. Box 689, Raymond, NH 03077-0689

Affiliated with the American Congress on Surveyingand Mapping, New England Section and

The National Society of Professional Surveyors.

Since all factors are not known at the start,particularly in the area of records research, it isnot possible to predict an exact cost prior to aboundary survey. However, based on generalexperience, the surveyor can usually furnish anestimate of the cost for a survey. In most cases,the field work accounts for less than half of thecost of a survey.

How Long Will It Take andHow Much Will It Cost?

The cost for most survey work is calculated on anhourly basis. Experience and local knowledge areimportant factors. Costs are also affected by thefollowing:

1. Type of SurveyThe type of data needed for each job mayvary based on the availability of existingdata and the final purpose of the survey.

Record Research

The number of past transactions, the qualityof the descriptions, the number of parcelsand abutting parcels involved all affect theamount of work required to complete thesurvey.

What Does the Land Surveyor Doto Complete a Survey?A land surveyor, like a detective, must find all thefacts in order to make the right decision. Thisinvolves researching records, finding evidence inthe field, accurately measuring between points onthe ground, calculating the locations of existingand new points, evaluating evidence, decidingwhere boundaries are located, setting newpermanent monuments, and drafting a planshowing the results of the survey. It isrecommended that the original plan be filed inthe Registry of Deeds to create a permanent legalrecord for you and subsequent owners.

3. Physical Features of the PropertyThe size, shape, terrain, access andvegetation can vary the amount of workrequired to perform the field work forthe survey.

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Your Single Most Valuable Asset-Your Land

Your land is, most likely, the largest portion ofyour personal wealth. Without it, you wouldhave no place to locate your home or business.To help protect this asset, you should know allyou can about it. The value and marketabilityof your land is always increased by having itsurveyed properly and the corners clearlymarked or monumented.

What is a Land Survey?A land survey is the process of finding,identifying, measuring and reporting thelocation of land features. These land features

take the form of boundaries such as ownership,jurisdiction (zoning, township) and physical(water, elevation, soil).

When Should You Consult

a Land Surveyor'?You should consider consulting a land surveyorbefore you buy land, before you sell land,before you do estate planning, before you builda house, build a road, drill a well, erect a fence,landscape, and before you develop a resource.

You may not own what you think you own.

Many elements of boundaries can complicatea survey. Vague, incomplete and contradictorylegal descriptions, passed on through years,distort and confuse the intentions of the

original owners of the property. Monuments,lost by careless handling, contribute to locationuncertainties and to the surveyors difficultiesin re-establishing property lines. Previoussubdivisions, done on paper without properfield measurements and monumentation,can lead to overlapping claims or gaps inownership. These factors are quite oftenencountered and can have a significant impacton the cost of the survey and on the locationof your land. In come cases, the surveyor willuncover boundary problems which may requirelegal action to resolve.

Why Do You Need a Survey?

Have you ever read a deed description that didnot make sense to you? Do you know whereyou can find a copy of the deed to your land?Does it describe what you think you own?How many neighbors' names do you recognizein the description? Do you know if your landhas ever been surveyed? Do you mistake theplot plan you received from the bank as anactual boundary survey when, in fact, it statesthat it is not? If you are puzzled by theanswers to these questions, you need a survey.You need to know more about your land inorder to make decisions about the use or

disposition of it.

Land is usually the largest portion of a person'swealth, yet many people neglect to protect thisasset. Boundaries become unclear without

proper maintenance and can lead to disputesbetween neighbors. Buildings constructed tooclose to or over property lines result fromunclear boundaries. All these very expensiveand often financially devastating problems canbe avoided by having your land surveyed forsubstantially less cost than the cost of litigationand resulting damages. The cost of a survey isrelatively small when compared to the value ofyour land and problems you avoid. You shouldhave your land surveyed when you need toknow where your boundaries are and whetherthe land characteristics such as slopes,drainage, and access will allow you to do whatyou intend to do. A survey helps to reveal thetrue value of a parcel of land by showing youhow much of what you own is suitable for aparticular purpose.

What Do You Do With A Survey'?A survey plan is the best tool for communicat­ing what the surveyor has surveyed. A surveyplan has many uses and there are differenttypes of surveys for differing purposes. Asurvey can disclose title problems, recoverlost monuments, reveal the true locations ofproperty lines, assist you in making decisionsregarding development, estate planning, legalaction and resource management.

Who Does Surveys?Only a person licensed as a land surveyor by theNew Hampshire Board of Licensure for LandSurveyors is legally permitted to practice bound­ary surveying in New Hampshire. Other formsof surveying, relating to construction, but notconcerning boundaries, may in some cases, beperformed by some of the related professionalssuch as architects and engineers. But to ensurea quality survey is performed by someonecompletely qualified, it is best to first consult alicensed land surveyor.

How Do You Choose

The Right Surveym"?Ask questions. How much experience does thesurveyor have performing this type of work?Has the surveyor done similar work in thepast and is he/she familiar with the job'srequirements? How much local knowledgedoes the surveyor have?

Is Your Land Surveym" a Member of aProfessional Society'?The New Hampshire Land SurveyorsAssociation provides its members with anextensive ongoing continuing educationprogram to help them stay on top of thelatest developments in surveying techniques,technology, and the law relating to landboundaries and land development. Its memberssubscribe to a code of ethics to assure highstandards in the performance of their work.A list of NHLSA members and copies of thecurrent ethics and standards are available bycontacting the NHLSA at (603) 895-4822 orwriting to:

NHLSA

P.O. Box 689

Raymond, NH 03077

or e-mail usat:nhlsa.@nh.ultranet.com