A survey should be made before purchasing real estate, dividing any parcel for sale, and prior to the construction of any structure on property in which you have an interest.

Remember, the services of a surveyor now will cost less in time, worry, and money than the cost of moving a building or defending a lawsuit later!

Yes. In Michigan, Professional Surveyors must be licensed by the state to conduct surveys. Licensing is normally achieved after completing a four-year college surveying program, followed by 4 years of practical experience after college, and 3 licensing exams, which range from national topics to items that are state-specific to the laws in Michigan. Only licensed Professional Surveyors can legally provide any property or boundary surveys, set property corners, or mark property lines in Michigan. Anyone who represents that they can mark your property, but is not licensed, should be reported to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/SURVEYORS.

No. Competency of the Surveyor is the most important aspect of every survey. Your selection should be made when you are sure the Surveyor has all the facts and is completely aware of your requirements. The fee or basis of charging for the survey should then be determined and agreed upon.

Yes. Surveyors, like other professional people, vary in knowledge, ability, and specialties and their fees may vary depending upon those factors as well.  However, because Surveyors are licensed by the state and closely regulated, our experience confirms that after the Surveyor is selected and the scope of work agreed upon, a competent Professional Surveyor will complete that work and will charge an appropriate fee. Anyone with complaints or concerns about a surveyor can contact the State of Michigan’s Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/SURVEYORS.

Survey costs usually depend on the scope of work including the kind of survey required and difficulties encountered, some of which normally cannot be anticipated in advance. The cost is then based on the time required to make the survey and prepare the necessary drawings and descriptions. You should negotiate this with your surveyor before you authorize them to proceed.

No. It is your responsibility to furnish the Surveyor with a legal description (i.e., the deed or title insurance policy) of what you want surveyed. The Surveyor will then locate the property on the ground, marking the corners with physical monuments. If unforeseen problems are encountered, this may require title research and additional survey work that will affect the final cost of the survey.

Although it is not usually required that you visit the Surveyor’s office, you may wish to do so to meet and speak with your Surveyor in person. Most often, however, it is adequate to transmit your instructions to the Surveyor either by telephone or email. After explaining why the survey is needed, you will be asked to provide the Surveyor with a correct description of the property you want surveyed (i.e., a copy of your title insurance policy or deed and authorization to proceed).