We have provided the answers to a few commonly asked questions concerning our
profession. If you do not see your question or you would like more information,
please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Who is a land surveyor?
How do I obtain the services of a licensed surveyor?
What can a surveyor do for me?
Can I find my own boundary lines?
Do land surveyors change boundaries?
What if I have a complaint about a surveyor's work?
Will the county surveyor survey my property?
What does the surveyor need from me?
What information does a surveyor use to produce an accurate survey?
Who is a land surveyor?
A qualified professional who is licensed in the State of Nebraska to establish or reestablish the
boundaries of lots or parcels of land and to locate the improvements (buildings and other features)
located thereon based on land records and site examinations.
SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
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How do I obtain the services of a licensed surveyor?
Ask someone who has employed a competent land surveyor.
Consult with your attorney, real estate agent, banker, or title
insurance company.
Look in the yellow pages under “Surveyors - Land”.
Obtain a list of licensed land surveyors from the Nebraska Board of
Examiners for Land Surveyors: 555 North Cotner Boulevard -
Lower Level, Lincoln, NE 68505; Tel: (402)471-2566; http://www.nbels.nebraska.gov/
What can a surveyor do for me?
Consult and advise you whether or not you need a land survey, and
what type of survey you may need to suit your best interests
concerning building, developing, or boundary issues.
Examine your deed and adjoining deeds for problems.
Locate or reestablish, verify, and mark boundary corners.
Establish new boundary corners.
Locate encroachments and improvements (buildings and other
features) relative to boundary lines.
Survey topography and draw contour maps.
Create subdivisions.
Prepare drawings to be used in rezoning or subdivision
applications.
Complete FEMA Elevation Certificates.
Cooperate and confer with your attorney, title insurance company,
realtor, banker, architect, engineer, or local building & zoning
personnel.
Appear in court as an expert witness.
Can I find my own boundary lines?
If corner monuments have been previously
established, you may be able to use a metal detector to
help locate any metal pins at boundary corners. If you
determine your own boundary lines, then you take the risk
of being wrong in your determination. Therefore,
depending on the accuracy needed on the boundary line,
a licensed surveyor should verify the monument location.
Do land surveyors change boundaries?
Land surveyors cannot and do not take away land or give land to anyone. Because boundary lines are based upon legal records,
conflicts sometimes arise when recorded descriptions do not agree with the way the property has actually been occupied. Many
properties have been occupied and built on through the years without the benefit of a land survey and without consideration of the
recorded land description.
A surveyor establishes boundary lines according to the recorded land descriptions, but in so doing, lines may depart from
occupation and give the appearance of change initiated by the surveyor.
It is important to realize that the land surveyor in most cases "follows the footsteps of the original land surveyor". This means also
that the surveyor replaces corners "where evidence has shown they were originally set" (as opposed in some cases, to put corners
where an individual assumes them to be).
What if I have a complaint about a
surveyor's work?
Will the county surveyor survey my
property?
Consult with the surveyor and try to reach an
agreement. If you still have a problem, inform
the Nebraska Board of Examiners for Land
Surveyors and file a formal complaint
(http://www.nbels.nebraska.gov/complaint.html).
You can contact the Board at: 555 North
Cotner Boulevard - Lower Level, Lincoln, NE
68505; Tel: (402)471-2566 or FAX:
(402)471-3057; http://www.nbels.nebraska.gov/
No. The county surveyor is responsible for
maintaining survey records - not conducting private
surveys. In most cases, when a county surveyor does
conduct a boundary survey, the proceeds are given
back to the county. However, in some instances, the
county surveyor will use their private business to
perform the survey and retain all of the earnings. Be
aware of who you are employing to conduct your
survey.
What does the surveyor need from me?
What information does a surveyor use to produce
an accurate survey?
If the surveyor knows why you want a survey, he/she can
recommend the type of survey you need, and how much detail
should be shown on a survey map, plat, or exhibit. The more
information you can furnish the surveyor, the more you may
expedite the surveyor's work. Some of the information you should supply may include, but is not limited to:
A proper boundary survey involves a thorough search of
recorded documents and examination of physical evidence of
prior surveys. Record research can be affected by the amount
of parcels involved and the number of previous transactions. In
the past, some land transactions have included vague,
incomplete, and often contradictory legal descriptions. A great
majority of the research that a surveyor uses will be found in
public records filed in the county surveyor’s office and the
county register of deeds office.
The exact purpose of the survey.
A copy of your legal description from your recorded deed
or recent title report/policy.
Location of any known boundary corners.
Old surveys, plats, plot plans or building plans.
Information about adjoining land owners.
Information about disagreements over corners and lines.
Agreement as to who pays and when.
Supply information even though you might think that it might
negatively affect your boundaries. It is important to understand
that although you may really only want your own boundary lines
surveyed, the land surveyor is also determining the boundary of
your neighbors’ land, and must be impartial in the location of
any boundary line.
F A Q (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
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I. Ask how you could find your boundary lines years
from now based on your land survey.
II. Don't mistake traverse lines for your boundary
lines. Ask where your boundary corners and lines
are, and feel free to ask the land surveyor for help
and advice - this is one of the reasons you hired the
surveyor.
III. Inspect your boundary lines regularly, protect
your boundary corners from destruction by others,
and never move or relocate boundary corners.
IV. Don't seek the cheapest land surveyor; select
one who will do the best, satisfactory job for you.
V. Ask questions if you do not understand what is
being presented or discussed.
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