 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||
|
|
 |
||||
 |
|||||
|
|
 |
||||
|
|
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
Q: What is your turn around time on a regular (as built) mortgage survey?
A: Unless we have trouble finding monuments (pins, rods, pipes, etc.) or encounter mean dogs and locked gates, the normal turnaround is 48 hours.
Q: We have a rush survey that we need ASAP! Can you help us?
A: That would depend on several factors. Is it a normal lot or acreage? What development is it in? Is that development in Bexar County? Depending on the answers to those and a few other questions, we can promise a 24 hour turnaround for a nominal extra charge.
Q: Do you go outside Bexar County to survey?
A: As part of our goal to provide service to the Greater San Antonio Area, we regulary survey in the following counties: Bandera, Caldwell, Atascosa, Medina, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Wilson and Blanco.
Q: My neighbors fenceline appears to be over my property line. Can you come check it? And then can you get them to move it?
A: First of all, are you sure it's your neighbors fence? Unless you saw the fence being built, there is a chance that the fence belongs to you. Surveyors can not settle legal issues for you. If the fence does turn out to be your neighbor's property and they dispute the location of it you may need a survey and an attorney. This is more of a legal issue then a survey issue.
Q: Is there any way of determining who actually owns a fence before purchasing the property?
A: No. Most fences are built by the developer.
Q: There is a Utility Easement in the back of my lot. I was told I couldn't put anything back there. Is this true?
A: Mostly. Anything that is in permanent (pools, utility sheds, anything on a concrete slab, patios, etc.) should not be built in a Utility Easment. A good rule of thumb is: If you can't move it yourself, don't put it there. The reason is because the utility companies regularly need access to these areas for repairs and maintenance.
Q: I am selling my home and the realtor asked me for my old survey so that the buyer could use it at closing. The title company rejected it because it is copyrighted. It's my survey, so how can they do that?
A: Copyright law is complex. We can't give you a quick and easy answer. Surveys, like architectural plans, are considerd the intellectual property of the survey company that created them. When you paid for the survey, you actually paid for the one time use of the survey for your real estate transaction only. To use it again you will need the express permission and release from the survey company that prepared the survey.
Q: I'm purchasing a home and I want to use the seller's old survey to save money. My realtor doesn't think that's a good idea. I am being advised to buy a new survey. What will a new survey provide for me that the old one won't?
A: A new survey will give you an accurate and up-to-date look at what you are purchasing today. The old survey may not show any new fences that may or may not be in the right place. Did the previous owners make any additions to the house in any way? If they did, these additions may violate existing setback or easement lines. Any of these issues could make your new home unsaleable in the future. A new survey would reveal any hidden defects and help you resolve issues that could arise.
Q: I received a letter from my mortgage company requesting that I purchase flood insurance. The flood statement on my survey indicates that my home is not in a flood hazard zone. Who is right? What can I do?
A: It is possible that your survey is out of date. As subdivisions develop, upstream from your home, changes in water runoff sometimes occur. When this happens, your home could end up in a 100-year flood plain. Your lender is probably requesting flood insurance for this reason.
As for what can be done, most surveying and civil engineering companies can do an elevation study on your home to determine for certain if your home is at risk. Be forewarned that such studies can be extremely costly. It's a good idea to always ask for a quote before undertaking such a study. Please remember that you may spend a large amount of money to find out that the mortgage company was correct.
Q: The survey company that did my original survey no longer adds flood certifications to their surveys. Where can I go to get current flood zone information?
A: There are several companies that specialize in flood certification. Your survey company or your mortgage company can refer you to one of them. These companies charge a very reasonable fee for their services.
 |
||||
 |
||||
 |
||||