Cornerstone Surveying, Inc.
Retracing the past… Monumenting the future!
Home
Services
When do I need a surveyor?
How much does a survey cost?
Frequently Asked Questions
Request a Quote
About Us
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
We have listed several frequently asked questions below. If you do not see your question or would like a more detailed answer, please email us or give us a call. We will be happy to take the time to answer it for you.
Can I survey my own property?
No. In Iowa you have to be a Licensed Land Surveyor to perform land surveys in Iowa.
How long does it take to get survey done?
It can take anywhere form a couple of days to several weeks to complete a project, depending on the project scope. Cornerstone Surveying strives to provide a quick turnaround. Try to plan your surveying needs in advance, but if you are in a rush, we will do everything possible to complete your project.
Are Engineers allowed to perform surveys?
Not unless they are also licensed as a Land Surveyor in Iowa. The state code specifically lists what an Engineer can perform and what a Land Surveyor can perform. While an Engineer may have worked hand in hand with surveyors for years, unless he is Licensed then he doesn’t have the necessary knowledge and authority to perform surveys.
The City and/or County maps show my property lines. Do I still need a survey on my property?
Yes. The maps that cities and counties have are only a graphical representation of where the boundary lines are. These maps were developed by combining many different types of information and maps. They do not show accurately where your boundary lines are and in most instances were developed for other things. A land surveyor is the ONLY person who can show you where the boundary lines are on the ground.
I have a fence around my yard that was built by the previous owner. Is that on my property line?
Maybe… Maybe not? Many fences are still being and were installed without the benefit of a boundary survey. Many fences were built to where the people THOUGHT their boundary lines were, which many times are not where they actually are. Cornerstone Surveying, Inc will survey your property to show you where your boundary lines actually are.
Can you only survey one side of my property?
No. We will need to survey your whole property in order to determine the location of one side of it.
I am purchasing a home in newer subdivision from the original owner. Do we still need a survey?
Yes! During the first years, a subdivision undergoes a lot of utilities being installed and a massive amount of landscaping. It is very common for all the property corners to be destroyed while the landscaping and utility lines are being installed.
If we order a survey on a piece of property that we are thinking about purchasing and we decide not to purchase it, do we still have to pay for the survey?
Yes! When we perform a survey, we not only provide you with signed a sealed plats but we also are required by law to record this plat with the county recorders office for public records. We do not work on a contingency basis.
Who pays for a survey during a real estate transaction?
That varies from transaction to transaction. I advise many clients that are going to be putting their property on the market, in the near future, to get a survey done before they list their property. When they show their property to potential buyers, they can see exactly where the boundary lines are. That gives a buyer an incredible piece of mind and will avoid any problems, survey related, during closing.
I own a rural piece of property and I don’t think the fences are where they should be. My neighbor tells me that they are correct. What should I do?
Get it surveyed! Cornerstone Surveying will perform a survey and then you will be able to see where the fence lines are compared to the boundary lines.
My property was surveyed years ago and I have a copy of the plat. Do I still need a survey performed on my property?
Maybe… Maybe not! If you know where the corner monuments on your property and they match what is shown as set or found on your plat then you probably don’t need a new survey. If you have a plat but can not locate the corner monuments then Cornerstone Surveying will perform a boundary survey that will utilize the previous survey and other information that we recover to mark your lines. Having the previous survey will, in most cases, reduce the cost of a new survey. Please be aware that for many years in Iowa, Mortgage Surveys were performed on property during real estate transfers. Mortgage Surveys ARE NOT boundary surveys and in most cases, they did not locate more then one or two property corners and are of really very little use in performing a boundary survey.
I have a friend (or neighbor) who used to (or still does) survey. He said he would be will to come and find my corners. Is this o.k.?
If the person is a Licensed Land Surveyor in Iowa, then it is definitely fine, BUT if they are not licensed then it is essentially worthless. While they may have been (or still are) very good at their specific role, they have not passed the tests, have a working knowledge of the state rules and regulations and have the education.