Question 1

What information can I find in a land survey report?

Accepted Answer

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Land survey reports have a boatload of information relevant to several scenarios. Here are the types of information contained with a survey, though it depends on your chosen type of land survey. Exact boundaries and dimensions of a given property General topography, including both natural and artificial landmarks Location of utility fixtures, like water mains Confirmation of any easements or encroachments on a piece of property Assessment of land elevation to buy flood insurance Updated information to add to a pre-existing property map

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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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 do the little lines on the tape measure mean?

Accepted Answer

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The small lines on the tape measure either indicate inches, fractions of an inch, or centimeters and millimeters. On the imperial unit side (aka the inches side), the longest lines indicate inches, followed by the next shortest lines that indicate a half-inch, and then the quarter, eighth, and sixteenth-inch. On the metric side, the lines break down meters, centimeters, and millimeters.

Question 4

How do you find a land surveyor?

Accepted Answer

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You will find a collection of licensed land surveyors in your area. Your real estate agent or construction manager may also be able to recommend a trusted professional. When speaking with prospective pros in your area, ask the land surveyor if they are licensed in the state, have liability insurance, and can quote you a fee before starting.

Question 5

What is the difference between a land survey and a plat?

Accepted Answer

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A land survey includes the layout of a single property, including precise measurements and to-scale drawings of boundary lines, land improvements, and sometimes other features, like topography and drainage information. A plat map includes the layouts and boundary lines of several adjacent plots and basic structure measurements. Surveys are normally more valuable for homeowners and buyers, and plat maps are for governmental use.