You may require the services of a professional surveyor in the event that you buy a home or a parcel of land. Generally, the need arises when you buy a home or parcel of land. Since this transaction represents a large and important investment to you and your family, the "Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio" have prepared this FAQ so you will better understand what a survey is and its importance in protecting your investment.

For a person to practice surveying in Ohio, they must be licensed and registered under the laws of the State of Ohio as a Professional Surveyor. Results of every survey must be shown by the surveyor on a plat as required by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

A survey locates upon the ground that land which your deed describes. The following are some different types of surveys:

• Boundary Survey: A survey for the express purpose of locating, describing, monumenting and mapping the exact boundaries and corners of a given parcel of land. This involves record and field research, field measurements and computations with the findings shown on a survey plat that is given to the land owner. A description may also be required for the purpose of recording a new deed.
• Title Survey: A survey which meets the specific needs for title insurance. The survey plat must show particular information discovered from measurements taken at the site, and not necessarily evidenced by public record.
• Subdivision Survey: A survey for the division of any lot or tract of land into smaller lots, with monumentation and a subdivision plat conforming to the governing ordinances including boundary descriptions for new deeds as required.
• Topographic Survey: A survey locating natural and man-made features such as elevations, contours of land, streams, buildings, fences, etc.

A combination of boundary and topographic surveying is used for design and construction of roads, subdivisions, pipelines, buildings, etc.

A survey should be performed when any of the following situations arise:

• The title to land is to be transferred and the land is not clearly defined by plat, description, or location on the surface of the earth.
• Land is to be divided by land contract, will, deed, court order, or desire of the owner.
• Land is to be improved by the construction of buildings, roads, fences, lakes, etc.
• There is a boundary dispute between you and your neighbor or you believe someone is encroaching upon your land.
• There is reason to believe the description, plat or the location of any property line or corner is incorrect.

The cost of a survey depends on several things including the type of survey needed, the time required to perform the survey, and preparation of necessary plats and descriptions. Some variables which affect the cost of a land survey are:

• Terrain and Accessibility: A level, open field is much easier to survey than a wooded, hilly tract of land.
• Time of Year: Dense vegetation in summer often restricts the line of sight. Snow in the winter may conceal field evidence.
• Size and Shape: An irregular shaped tract of land has more corners and a longer perimeter than a square containing the same area.
• Field Evidence: The presence of iron monuments, corner stones, etc. in the survey area aid the surveyor; their absence makes the survey more difficult.
• Deeds: At times the legal description of the property to be surveyed may be vague, incomplete, contradictory, and/or mathematically inaccurate. It may also be necessary to resolve an unrecorded deed, agreement, or easement.