Survey Land costs?

pclark

pclark

Well-known member
I am in process of needing to get my land surveyed. I have less than an acre, I know where the pipes are located on all four corners and have a plat map of my property.

I talked to a guy who is local in Vilas County, WI and when it came time to discuss the price price he quoted me $1,750.00. Is this a reasonable price for a survey of my land?

Does anyone up here in Vilas County, WI know of anyone who does land survey?

I told the guy I would think about it and get back to him but that seems a little steep.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Depends on what your doing. If you want to fence it in that’s a good reason. If it’s just for the record and your personal knowledge imo not worth the bucks. I had 3 acres had it surveyed and had a ball park idea of the border lines. I planted pine trees for privacy no one cared because it benefited the neighbors as well. I could careless if dogs or people came in my lot I’m just not territorial. Imo landscaping looks better if it’s integrated into borders. BUT I do understand others can be very territorial what’s theirs is theirs and blah blah blah. In those cases I tread lightly but think it’s laughable in the Northwoods but different strokes for different folks.
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
whitedust said:
Depends on what your doing. If you want to fence it in that’s a good reason. If it’s just for the record and your personal knowledge imo not worth the bucks. I had 3 acres had it surveyed and had a ball park idea of the border lines. I planted pine trees for privacy no one cared because it benefited the neighbors as well. I could careless if dogs or people came in my lot I’m just not territorial. Imo landscaping looks better if it’s integrated into borders. BUT I do understand others can be very territorial what’s theirs is theirs and blah blah blah. In those cases I tread lightly but think it’s laughable in the Northwoods but different strokes for different folks.
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Thanks Whitedust, I should have mentioned that I am going remodel my place and build a nice mancave garage so I will need the survey done as part of the process but I honestly just about spit my water out when he gave me the price. I was expecting maybe $500 but I guess everything has gone through the roof. I may have found a new profession, I truly believe there is a little profit built into that quote. I told the guy that I know exactly where the pipes are and he started coming down in price so that led me to believe that he might be padding things a bit.
 
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wiscrev

Well-known member
pclark said:
Thanks Whitedust, I should have mentioned that I am going remodel my place and build a nice mancave garage so I will need the survey done as part of the process but I honestly just about spit my water out when he gave me the price. I was expecting maybe $500 but I guess everything has gone through the roof. I may have found a new profession, I truly believe there is a little profit built into that quote. I told the guy that I know exactly where the pipes are and he started coming down in price so that led me to believe that he might be padding things a bit.
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There is a couple in Conover that surveys. They quoted me "about $650." Met them @ a bar so don't know their name but I could get it for you as they are friends with the owner. The also said it depended on what you wanted done.
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
wiscrev said:
There is a couple in Conover that surveys. They quoted me "about $650." Met them @ a bar so don't know their name but I could get it for you as they are friends with the owner. The also said it depended on what you wanted done.
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Wiscrev, If you could get the name I would appreciate it. PM me if that works for you.

Thanks!
 
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mrbb

Well-known member
in my area the price you got for a small lot is about normal
but when larger acre's are being done, its far cheaper per acre.
it seems that most surveyors seem to want to make top dollar if doing small jobs
my one friend did it for 25 yrs AFTER retiring(at 55) from his main job, and did surveying on the side, and was still actively doing it at the age of 88 when he died!
said the money was too good and easy to give up!

I was lucky as when he was alive I got him to do my propertied for me for free , HAHA!

on a side note, (in case your above contact doesn;t come thru)
if you have any timber company's near you, or timbering being done near by, , some times they know folks that work on the side, or that IF working in your area, will cut you a discount , as already working in the area!
you need to be more flexible on working with there schedule, over your's but it can save you a few bucks!
 
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eao

Active member
There is a lot more work involved in doing a land survey that many realize. Surveyors are required to be licensed by the state so most are going to be though (land records, field recon etc) and not just rubber stamp something. Granted some charge more that others just like lawyers but they are licensed professionals and their work is legit. DON"T hire someone who is NOT LICENSED, their work has NO LEGAL standing.

PS-I worked for 30 yrs for a Professional Licensed Land Surveyor with state DOT. We encountered a lot of messed up handyman property surveys and some of them ended up in court. One comes to mind where a land owner had a road built and the road was built on the adjacent owners property. He just picked the easiest spot and turn out it was not on his property by a couple 100 ft. Guess who the property owner was? The Copper County State Forest which covers about 1/3 of da U.P. He did not get to keep the road and btw, he was the owner of a big logging company. And to boot, it was wetlands!
 
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pclark

pclark

Well-known member
Thanks for all the replies guys, I am not in a huge hurry, just trying to pay a fair price.
 
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Go Fast or Go Home

Active member
Are you getting a simple survey or an improved survey ? Improved will cost you more. $1750 seems a bit high. In Southwest Michigan where I live surveys for your size property run about $1100.

As eao said---Make sure your survey is certified and stamped by a licensed surveyor otherwise it will have NO LEGAL STANDING.

Don~
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
Go Fast or Go Home said:
Are you getting a simple survey or an improved survey ? Improved will cost you more. $1750 seems a bit high. In Southwest Michigan where I live surveys for your size property run about $1100.

As eao said---Make sure your survey is certified and stamped by a licensed surveyor otherwise it will have NO LEGAL STANDING.

Don~
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Don,

I would assume just a simple survey, I just need to establish legally my property lines. And yes, thank you for the advice of certified and licensed.
 
heckler56

heckler56

Well-known member
I had to provide a plat survey with the rendering of my proposed pole barn 4 years ago in northern lower MI. For the 2 1/2 acre lot it ran $1,100 and he used gps based technology. Lucky for me he found the original (1945) concrete monuments under 6” of soil at the exact locations by gps!
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
heckler56 said:
I had to provide a plat survey with the rendering of my proposed pole barn 4 years ago in northern lower MI. For the 2 1/2 acre lot it ran $1,100 and he used gps based technology. Lucky for me he found the original (1945) concrete monuments under 6” of soil at the exact locations by gps!
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I have the plat survey.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
If you are well within the offsets for the structure you should be fine. All kinds of building went on in my neighborhood nobody did new surveys.
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
whitedust said:
If you are well within the offsets for the structure you should be fine. All kinds of building went on in my neighborhood nobody did new surveys.
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Have a nosy neighbor, also one side of my house is very close to being 15ft from the property line so I want to make sure. Thanks
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
heckler56 said:
We have to provide exact measurements from property lines and surveyor placed stakes the Twp can confirm once the foundation and then the structure are from those.
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I want to do this right and have have legal documentation, so will have certified and licensed surveyor. Thank you
 
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old abe

Well-known member
Go Fast or Go Home said:
Are you getting a simple survey or an improved survey ? Improved will cost you more. $1750 seems a bit high. In Southwest Michigan where I live surveys for your size property run about $1100.

As eao said---Make sure your survey is certified and stamped by a licensed surveyor otherwise it will have NO LEGAL STANDING.

Don~
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Absolutely spot on the Certified and Stamped by a Licensed Surveyor! Priceless! My surveys have provided me unknown value at the time we had them done. Many times over! Low cost as to your property value.
 
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