Does the seller get to see the survey if a buyer pays for it?

• <div><p>If a buyer pays for a survey, the surveyor they hired will only provide results to them. It’s up to the buyer whether they share the survey results with the seller or not, even if they ultimately walk away from the deal. It’s considered good faith to share the results with the seller, though, especially if you back out of the deal, as the seller can then provide that survey to future interested parties.</p></div>

What should I consider when planning land survey costs?

• <div><p>When planning for land survey costs, you should consider the following elements as major contributors to the overall cost:</p><ul><li><p>Size of your property in terms of acres or square feet</p></li><li><p>Complexity of the terrain in terms of hills, elevation changes, rocks, water, and other features</p></li><li><p>Type of survey you need (boundary survey, topographic survey, or a combination of survey types)</p></li><li><p>Distance traveled for the professional surveyor </p></li></ul><p></p></div>

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Q: What do the little lines on the tape measure mean?

• <div><p>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.</p></div>

Q: Can you build on undeveloped land?

• <div><p>You can&rsquo;t build on undeveloped land without preparing it for construction, which involves running utilities to the site or accounting for private utilities like wells and septic systems and grading and compacting the soil for safe construction. Once you prepare the land, you can build on it as long as the project abides by local zoning regulations.</p></div>

Q: What type of land survey is the most expensive?

• <div><p>ALTA/ACSM surveys are the most comprehensive type of land survey and, as such, tend to be the most expensive. These surveys have standardized guidelines and reports and are used in many kinds of real estate transactions to ensure consistent and accurate information is available for properties.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Land Surveying pros in Orwell, NY

*The Angi rating for Land Surveying companies in Orwell, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Land Surveying needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Land Surveying companies in Orwell, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Land Surveying needs.

Last update on November 24, 2025

Reviewed in June 2025
Adam was very professional with good communication. The quality of work was very high with great attention to detail. I would highly recommend Adam and Gokey Land improvements
Go Key Land Improvements
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Reviewed in October 2015
Bob was great. After one phone call, Bob came out to survey the kitchen and provide an estimate on the work. He replaced some of the plumbing to make the new sink fit and update it. He also installed a new tile backsplash behind the new counter top. Bob was punctual, professional, personable...
Brasstacks (Bob Koch)
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Reviewed in September 2015
Ed visited our house to look everything over and provide a quote. He then gave us some dates when he could start the work. Ed showed up on the date specified and did an outstanding job. He paid great attention to detail, making sure that not one speck of paint landed on any of the wood stained...
Ed Halbig Painting Services
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Reviewed in June 2015
Water heater failed on Fri nite of Memorial Day weekend. Contacted several bigbox providers1st thing Sat AM, and only Sears said they would install that day, so ordered from them. However, no one showed up or contacted me, so I called Sears back early afternoon and was told they NEVER install...
ROSS HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
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Reviewed in February 2014
I highly recommend Mike Dlugozima / www.mrdrywall.com for any of your contracting needs. He is HONEST, dependable, has great references, quotes fair prices and does EMPECABLE work!! I am a single female with no knowledge of construction that purchased my first home that was a1950’s colonial. ...
CNY Drywall
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Reviewed in November 2012
Professional, polite, fast. Called on Thursday, received estimate Friday, three of the four tree groups were taken down Saturday afternoon, the fourth done Monday. A six man crew, with 65' cherry picker, large chipper, etc., really did a nice job. All debris was cleaned out, trees were sectioned...
TIMBER TREE SERVICE
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Reviewed in May 2012
They did a great, awesome job. They got here one day, and the next day it was up. The guy came in, he pulled out the survey, shot the lines, he laid out the lines properly and he was right on. They were great, and they didn't fool around, they had about eight hours over two days, and they got it...
Butler Fence Co Inc
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Reviewed in September 2010
The land prep was very poor. The hydroseed applied is full of weeds. After 4 weeks, instead of having a grass, I and my neighbors are having a lot of weeds. I spend money, time and effort to undo the poor job they did, even the price they charge was very high. Very poor work
LAWN TECH
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Reviewed in September 2007
The tree lander employee were very professional and did an excellent job. They left the backyard as if no tree had been removed, they picked up so well after themselves.
Treelanders Tree Service LLC
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Find Land surveyors in Orwell

R J Lighton Sr Land Surveying

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R J Lighton Sr Land Surveying

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Choose the land surveying company in Syracuse, New York, with more than 40 years of experience for your surveying solutions. At R J Lighton Sr Land Surveying, we have offered residential, commercial, and industrial services since 1969. With our land surveying expertise and knowledge of state law and local requirements, our family-owned-and-operated company is a natural choice for your project. We embrace the latest technology and equipment while maintaining a deep understanding of the fundamental aspects of the profession, and our expertise in the fundamental concepts of surveying serves as a backbone to our success in this field.

Land Surveying questions, answered by experts

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.

If a buyer pays for a survey, the surveyor they hired will only provide results to them. It’s up to the buyer whether they share the survey results with the seller or not, even if they ultimately walk away from the deal. It’s considered good faith to share the results with the seller, though, especially if you back out of the deal, as the seller can then provide that survey to future interested parties.

You can’t build on undeveloped land without preparing it for construction, which involves running utilities to the site or accounting for private utilities like wells and septic systems and grading and compacting the soil for safe construction. Once you prepare the land, you can build on it as long as the project abides by local zoning regulations.

ALTA/ACSM surveys are the most comprehensive type of land survey and, as such, tend to be the most expensive. These surveys have standardized guidelines and reports and are used in many kinds of real estate transactions to ensure consistent and accurate information is available for properties.

When planning for land survey costs, you should consider the following elements as major contributors to the overall cost:

Size of your property in terms of acres or square feet
Complexity of the terrain in terms of hills, elevation changes, rocks, water, and other features
Type of survey you need (boundary survey, topographic survey, or a combination of survey types)
Distance traveled for the professional surveyor

The Orwell, NY homeowners’ guide to land surveying services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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