Although often overlooked, the land surveyor is an essential and versatile expert in the real estate sector. They handle tasks related to topography, geodesy, staking, boundary marking, and land development.
In the real estate field, land surveyors are involved at various stages, such as land subdivision, boundary definition, building construction, and property transactions. They possess a thorough understanding of the regulations surrounding rights.
In this article, we present three key reasons to hire this objective and impartial professional.
-
A land surveyor is essential during a real estate transaction
Just like the real estate agent, notary, and building inspector, the land surveyor plays a crucial role in the process. Their expertise is necessary for producing the location certificate, a document that confirms the property’s compliance with local regulations.
Before finalizing the transaction, the land surveyor conducts a land survey, measuring the property’s dimensions and area. They also identify any occupation marks, easements, and encroachments, if applicable.
The collected data is presented in a report, which includes the expert’s professional opinion. This forms the location certificate, a document you must carefully review before completing the transaction, as its content could impact the value of the property you’re considering.
-
They guide you before the construction work on your property
Whether you’re planning to build a new structure on vacant land, expand your home, or carry out exterior developments, a land surveyor can be extremely helpful. They ensure that your project complies with local regulations.
The land surveyor can check whether the planned work stays within the boundaries of your property. To do this, they create a layout plan that outlines the future location of your project and ensure it adheres to all relevant land use regulations.
Although hiring this expert is not mandatory, it can be a smart preventive measure, especially if you’re building near the boundary of your land and want to avoid encroaching your neighbour’s property.
By confirming your project’s compliance with municipal regulations beforehand, you can avoid potential issues or disputes with neighbours.
-
They can help you in the event of a dispute between neighbours
A common issue many people face is a fence mistakenly built on a neighbour’s land. This situation can strain relationships, with one neighbour defending their actions and the other claiming an encroachment on their property.
To avoid such conflicts, you can hire a land surveyor to precisely define your property boundaries before building your fence. This ensures you don’t encroach on your neighbour’s land and allows you to make an informed decision about where to place your fence, considering two possible scenarios.
You can choose to build the fence on your side of the boundary or directly on the property line. If you opt for the latter, it may involve sharing costs with your neighbour and agreeing on fence characteristics (such as height, colour, and materials). This approach helps clarify any ambiguities related to property titles or cadastral plans in your favour.
Beyond fence-related disputes, a land surveyor can also assist with various other property boundary issues. Whether you’re addressing encroachments on your land or seeking an easement on your land or seeking a right of way on your neighbour’s property, a land surveyor can help resolve neighbourhood disputes in a calm and definitive manner.
Hiring a land surveyor for your real estate project
Regardless of the reason for hiring a land surveyor, it’s important to ensure that the expert is a member of the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ).
This organization protects the public by overseeing the education and practice of its members and preventing the illegal practice of the profession. The OAGQ also provides a list of recommended fees, helping you assess whether the amount requested by the professional for their services is reasonable.
Are you looking to understand your property bounderies?
XpertSource.com can help you find a land surveyor. When you tell us about your project, we put you in touch with qualified resources for FREE. Simply fill out our form ( it only takes a few minutes ) and we will connect you with professionals.
