Information for my land surveyor

Good day, readers. This week, I want to address a matter that my colleagues and I have a challenge with all the time: the matter of persons giving very little information on a property and expecting us to know what type of survey they require, and expecting us to give a quotation on the cost to do same. I will just inform you persons wishing to use the services of a land surveyor about some of the information we will need to give you the requisite information you will need.

A typical question I receive, by phone, and many times by email, is: 'Mr Francis, I need a survey done. I have a piece of land in a particular place and I need it to be surveyed. Can you tell me how long will the survey take, when can you do it and how much will it cost to conduct such a survey?'.

The above is very frustrating to me and my colleagues as with this non-information, we are unable to give you any reasonable response because there is insufficient information to give a credible response.

The very first thing your land surveyor needs to know is what kind of survey you need. Different types of surveys require different types of methodologies and attract different fees, so this is a fundamental piece of information that the land surveyor needs. If you are unsure of what type of surveying service you require, you can disclose the purpose for which the survey is required, and from that we can determine what type of survey is needed. For example, if you inform us that the bank requires it to give you a loan, we can deduce that you require a surveyor's report. Also, your land surveyor needs to know the acreage of the property that you would like to be surveyed as this, too, will instruct us as to how to price the job, and help us to estimate the time frame within which the job can be completed.

property location

Your land surveyor also needs to know where the property is located and the nature of the vegetation on it. Also he/she needs to know the type of terrain, as this also will help to determine price and timeline for completion of a particular job. Sometimes your land surveyor will also require the value of your property to ascertain the value of the survey to be done.

Here are just a few tips for you if you are going to contact your surveyor with regard to contracting his/her services:

First, try to know what surveying service/s you require. Also, know the amount of land, the location, and the amount and type of vegetation. The value of and type of property will be very helpful.

If you are not familiar with the above-mentioned things, then the volume and folio number on the certificate of title, the civic address or the land valuation number will suffice.

So the next time you contact your surveyor, you will be very knowledgeable and ready to answer all his questions.

Keep sending your questions and comments and let's continue to explore A Matter of Land. Until next time, traverse well.

NOTE: In our last publication it stated that Commissioned Land Surveyor Mrs Sherine Williams Chin's father was a commissioned land surveyor. This was an error. He has been working in the land surveying profession as a field and engineering surveyor for many years but is not commissioned. Sorry for any misunderstanding this may have caused.

n Craig Francis is a commissioned land surveyor and managing director of Precision Surveying Services Ltd. He can be contacted for questions or queries at craig_r_francis@yahoo.com or his Facebook page, Precision Surveying Services