4 Important Reasons to Perform an ALTA Route Survey

Whether working on a government project or a commercial development, a route survey is necessary to provide a utility, boundary, and topographic survey. Chris Nelson can provide an ALTA survey that is essential in determining different elements that impact the ownership of land such as: easements, rights-of-way, and property improvements. When looking for a surveyor, considering one who meets ALTA standards can help to catch many potentially costly issues.

Showcasing Possible Encroachments or Easements

Recorded easements will be plotted on an ALTA survey drawing. Additionally, an ALTA survey will show potential encroachments to avoid a property owner violating the rights of their neighbor by building over or on property that actually belongs to the neighbor. This can avoid costly legal battles down the road.

Removing Title Exceptions

The title insurer can place certain exceptions on a title insurance policy. These exceptions, such as encroachments, are in place to limit the liability of the title insurer. Since an ALTA survey showcases encroachments and other exceptions, the title insurer will remove the exceptions from the policy when an ALTA survey is processed.

Table A Items

These Table A items are additional items that can be included as part of an ALTA survey. These optional items can be ordered at the same time that the original survey is ordered. Having these items done at the same time as the boundary survey can potentially save money since the work will be taking place at the same time.

Consistent Standards

The professionals involved with any deal are going to be familiar with ALTA surveys. That is why having Chris Nelson provide an ALTA survey will provide a level of comfort and familiarity. The ALTA standards are uniform and nation-wide which make it straightforward for any title company to provide title insurance on the property.

Showcasing issues that can arise down the road with a universal set of standards are the prime reasons for ordering an ALTA route survey. Investing in Chris Nelson for an ALTA survey can be one of the most important investments taken with a property.

The Importance of Surveying in Land Development Projects

Building and development is one of the hallmarks of civilization. While there are cultures that do not build many permanent structures, most of the world regards architecture and land development as central to progress. In order to build anything, from a park to a skyscraper, one of the first steps is to survey the land in question. A land development survey can take many different forms, but each is designed to help make the most of a piece of property.

Different Types of Survey

Most of the earliest surveys were topographical in nature, since the landscape and geography of the world was still being explored. Today there are still topographic surveys, but many others types as well. Some of the various kinds of survey include: flood elevation, construction, boundary, as-built, and ALTA/ACSM surveys. Determining where a piece of land falls within the local flood plane is very important for builders and for insurance purposes. A flood certificate is required by most investors to ensure a property is prepared for the possibility of flooding. Boundary surveys are most often used when the corners of a parcel of land must be re-established before a construction or building project can go forward. Each land development survey, like those listed above, has minimum standards that determine its usability. If a survey is not completed to the required specifications, the result could be disastrous for the final development project.

Trust the Survey Experts

Since performing accurate surveys is essential to the future integrity of building projects, it makes sense to trust the experts in survey taking, such as Chris Nelson & Associates. They are well-versed in each type of land development survey that your project may require. If you find that you want to create something out of an empty piece of property or would like to transform and old development into something different, contact Chris Nelson & Associates. They will complete your surveys professionally, accurately, and quickly allowing your land to be developed accordingly. 

Breaking Down the 3 Step Process of ALTA Land Surveys

Lenders, corporations, and title companies often require ALTA Surveys when dealing with commercial properties, especially those of value. ALTA stands for the American Land Title Association, which is a trade association that works specifically with industries such as abstract of title and title insurance. ALTA Surveys are usually arranged for commercial properties. The surveys give the information necessary to ensure the land title and improvements to a high degree. This information is provided to the title company. Before completing the survey, a current title commitment must be obtained. Los Angeles ALTA Surveys include fieldwork, a plat or map displaying the fieldwork results, and optional elements from “Table A.”

On-site fieldwork is performed on the ground and includes checking for monuments and rights of way and access. Monument fieldwork comprises of the location and description, including size and type, of monuments that control the boundaries of the property or are found within the property. Rights of way and access fieldwork contains points such as physical evidence, like curbs and driveways, which show the access to roads and highways, and it also contains the location of potentially encroaching alleys and driveways. Then there is also the locating and surveying of buildings, cemeteries, water features, and more.

After the fieldwork is completed, the surveyors provide a plat or map showing the results of the survey as well as its relationship to record documents. Any encroachments found during the land survey should be easily identifiable on the graphical representation. If the client and surveyor have negotiated items on “Table A” of the ALTA Land Title Survey document, such as flood zone classifications or exterior dimensions of all buildings at ground level, then those survey elements should be provided as well. “Table A” items negotiated for Los Angeles ALTA Surveys could be different from items selected for other areas because of differences in climate and other factors.

www.ChrisNelsonAssociates.com is a company that can provide these services, specifically for those requiring Los Angeles ALTA Surveys because California serves as the base of the company. As long as the minimum standards of the ALTA trade association are followed, all information necessary should be provided to the title company.