There are a couple ways you can finance a home or land for commercial development: have all the cash up front, or take out a loan for all or part of the purchase price. If you need a loan, then you should know that most mortgage lenders require proof of a land survey before they will move forward. Independent buyers should also consider investing in a survey for assurance that a potential property has met all the legal requirements of the county or city.
What are these requirements? For example, you want to check that all structures are within the boundary lines and that public access roads are not blocked, as well as determine whether there are any natural features on the property that are considered protected. A land surveyor can identify these points and geographical features from the ground and the air.
Here’s a look at why it’s important that a professional land surveyor in Idaho survey a property before you purchase it:
- Function: Land surveyors use specialized instruments to measure the land, whether they’re doing it before property improvements or to verify existing land improvements and legal documents. When the job is for the latter, a surveyor will look over legal land documents pertaining to property boundary lines, original and added features and location, as well as re-measure to confirm the lot size.
- Legal recourse: You may want to wait until the current owner solves any property disputes already in progress or have them fix boundary problems prior to you purchasing it. In fact, this is something you should do if your land surveyor in Idaho uncovers such issues during the surveying process or while studying the deed and other legal land documents at the county recorder’s office. Also, a professional survey can be a big help should you end up going to court in the future over property line disputes.
- Uncover restrictions: It’s necessary to get a land survey to make sure the property is not breaking any zoning laws. Some areas have specific building restrictions in place, while other areas are flexible; a surveyor will be able to tell you. There may be building codes that the home you want to purchase does not comply with—for example, it may have home additions or structures elsewhere on the property that are not approved by the county, a fence that is over the property line or the house itself is set too far back on the lot.
- Property rights: In some cases, the property a buyer is interested in shares a natural or manmade feature with at least one neighboring property—for example, more than two neighbors utilizing a common driveway, access road or walkway. Anything of the sort will be disclosed when you get a survey, although it should already be in the property’s records. You also need to be aware of easements or rights of way on private property; this is when someone other than the property owner is allowed to pass over the land, such as county utility companies or a neighbor.
Are you looking for a professional land surveyor in Idaho? Contact the experienced and knowledgeable team at Mason & Stanfield, Inc. today to arrange a consultation!