Residential and commercial building projects require the expertise of a professional land surveying company before they commence. Land surveying is not merely about measuring a parcel of land and determining its boundaries. It is a complex procedure that requires the expertise of licensed and certified land surveyors. These experts can appear in court as expert witnesses in case of a dispute on the property and its boundaries, too. In California, certain practices are followed by engineers, attorneys, architects, residents, and title companies when choosing a professional land surveying company. Here are some of them:
- Make sure the company is licensed to conduct land surveying in the state – Professional land surveyors (and civil engineers registered before 1982) must be licensed by the State Board for Processional Engineers and Land Surveyors before they are legally allowed to offer their services in California. Be sure to verify their licenses, too. Local knowledge enables them to easily identify the land conditions of the state, so they can make informed decisions and recommendations regarding land surveying methods and equipment to use.
- Determine the company’s standing with the BBB – The Better Business Bureau is a good source for information on a land surveying company’s history and background, as well as for complaints regarding the business. Find out how the company is rated by the BBB, too.
- Find out how long the company has been in business – Some of the best land surveying companies in California have been in business for over three decades. Make sure they are updated with the latest land surveying methods and equipment, like 3D high definition scanners and GPS. Experienced land surveyors are flexible and capable of conducting many different types of land surveys.
- Seek reviews and feedback from previous clients – Ask for references from the land surveying company or look them up to find feedback from previous customers. Feedback should provide an idea on the company’s reliability and helpfulness. See what kind of clients they serve, too. Professional land surveying companies continuously receive referrals and repeat business from public and private clients ranging from land brokers to property developers, contractors, attorneys, government agencies, architects, and engineers.
- Determine the types of services they offer – A professional land surveying company must be able to provide a wide variety of services like environmental, topographic, geodetic, boundary, HD, 3D, GPS, ALTA/ACSM, and residential property surveys.
About the Author:
Armando Dupont, a professional land surveyor, started his career in surveying in 1977 and has extensive experience in managing personnel and projects. His experience includes: topographic mapping, boundary surveys and analysis, construction and control surveying, preparation of tract and parcel maps, earth work calculation and quantities, targeting and control for photogrammetric, and land title surveys in accordance with the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Mr. DuPont founded Calvada Surveying, Inc. in 1989 and is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the State of California.