Q: How long is a land survey good for?

• <div><p>Land surveys don&rsquo;t technically expire. They do serve as a point of reference and a snapshot of your property, though, so as soon as you make changes to your property (and even if your neighbor makes certain changes to theirs), your existing land survey becomes inaccurate, and a new one must be done. Even if you don&rsquo;t make any changes to your property, many states only guarantee the accuracy of a land survey for five to ten years.</p></div>

Question 1

How do well drillers know where to drill?

Accepted Answer

•

Professional well contractors may use electromagnetic mapping to look for places with a high likelihood of water. Water access can vary significantly, even on the same property, so it can be difficult to know where to drill if you don’t have specialized tools to look for water.

Question 2

How hard is it to buy a house for the first time?

Accepted Answer

•

Several government-backed lending programs can help first-time home buyers purchase a home with little money down. FHA, USDA, and VA loans are options for qualifying borrowers, though many conventional mortgage lenders will lower down payment rates to as low as 3 percent.

Question 3

What is involved in a topographic survey?

Accepted Answer

•

Detailed mapping of elevation changes and natural features on the property.

Question 4

What’s the difference between a land survey and a boundary survey?

Accepted Answer

•

A boundary survey measures the boundary lines of the property, only the length of each property line and their locations. A land survey includes a more in-depth measurement of the property, including the heights and depths of the terrain measured by a topographic survey. A boundary survey is typically the most cost-effective method for marking and measuring property lines.

Question 5

How long is a land survey good for?

Accepted Answer

•

Land surveys don’t technically expire. They do serve as a point of reference and a snapshot of your property, though, so as soon as you make changes to your property (and even if your neighbor makes certain changes to theirs), your existing land survey becomes inaccurate, and a new one must be done. Even if you don’t make any changes to your property, many states only guarantee the accuracy of a land survey for five to ten years.