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When Considering the Purchase of an Empty Plot of Land | Corona, CA

When purchasing a building, it is natural to get a survey done to flag any issues the edifice has prior to signing any agreement. When it comes to a plot of vacant land, it is natural to think a survey isn’t necessary as the land is empty. Unfortunately, there are things about this plot of land you may not be able to see by just walking it and only a certified land surveyor can give you those answers.

An ALTA/ASCM survey (American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping) is the most comprehensive survey and is commonly recommended to the purchaser. Table A is a specific set of ALTA survey options you may want to know about, like flood zones or your neighbors. As you can see, this survey will not only show property lines, but easements, encroachments or other boundary issues that may affect your property or how the land is developed.

An easement is created when a landowner grants another party permission to use a certain portion of land for a specified purpose. This type of occurrence could be anything from a shortcut through the property to access to certain amenities. The details of these easements on the property, not the agreement itself, will be included in the survey.

An encroachment is a property improvement that partially lies on an adjacent property, without the adjacent owner’s permission. An example of this would be fencing meant to designate property lines that partially falls on the neighbor’s property in areas.

Once a survey is conducted, you can approach a purchase with more knowledge about what you are purchasing. If there are issues, they can be negotiated in order to prevent buyer’s remorse.

To find out more about purchasing land, please contact us at (800) CALVADA or visit www.calvada.com.

Calvada proudly serves Corona and all surrounding areas.

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The Importance of Getting an ALTA Survey | Corona, CA

When you buy property, it is important to make a thorough assessment of what exactly you are purchasing. Not only to have peace of mind about what you’re buying, but because the bank and title companies will likely expect it. This is easily done by having an ALTA survey done on the plot of land. Once you fully know what you are buying, it will also be easier to build. Here are more benefits of getting an ALTA survey:

Verify a purchase. When you buy a property, you and your lender will have to make sure that the property is worth the proposed amount and is free of problems. If the survey gives a negative report, you can make decisions accordingly prior to finalizing.

Depicting easement size and location. Having adequate knowledge of easements on the property you acquire is important and an ALTA survey will reveal these details.

Locating improvements and encroachments. An ALTA survey depicts all the buildings and structures existing on a property, every property improvement and any encroachment of other people’s property.

Property access. When you buy a property, knowing the routes to your property is important. A survey will show all roads, alleys, highways, and routes that grant access, impeding structures that restrict access and other necessary easements.

Help identify and locate utilities. Whatever might be the reason for you wanting to buy a property, you will want to know if the property has the utilities you require and this can be done by showing all the utilities on the property and their various locations.

To find out more about ALTA surveys, please contact us at (800) CALVADA or visit www.calvada.com.

Calvada proudly serves Corona and all surrounding areas.

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Hiring a Land Surveyor | Corona, CA

When you need to have a land survey done, it can be a daunting task to someone who has no idea what it entails. Its time to hire a professional to ensure that it is done with accuracy and skill. Here are some of the more common questions to ask when hiring a land surveyor.

Can I do my own property survey?

You can complete your own surveys when you measure how much space you have to build a deck or patio. There’s certainly no law against checking how much space you have within your own property. What you can’t do is measure your own property and use those findings as legal documents. Since property is an expensive asset, only licensed professionals can conduct legal surveys to determine legal boundaries that affect property value. Professional surveyors are also skilled and trained at evaluating difficult terrain for construction projects as requested by engineers and lenders.

What does a land survey include?

It depends on the kind of land survey you choose. Most homeowners need a boundary survey that identifies the exact locations of their boundaries with a legal description. They’ll also include any right-of-way access or other easements. More extensive surveys like topography or ALTA surveys assess the terrain, ground stability, natural and manufactured features, and property rights. Do your research and ask questions.

Is a land survey more expensive for a bigger plot of land?

In general, yes. It costs anywhere from $50 to $500 per acre to conduct a survey, but that’s also dependent on how complex the terrain is. Some surveyors may charge a flat fee for a home in a standard-size subdivision, but any unusual or large properties will cost more to survey.

To find out more about hiring a land surveyor, please contact us at (800) CALVADA or visit www.calvada.com.

Calvada proudly serves Corona and all surrounding areas.

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Why We Need to Survey Land | Corona, CA

We all know that in order to develop land, you need to know the boundary lines in which you can expand and what kind of land you are trying to develop. This is when a land survey comes in handy. Not only do surveys help plot out the land but surveyors are used in the design and planning of said land to make room for things like roads, utilities and landscaping. It may seem like a new concept, but surveys have been needed since the beginning of civilization.

Land surveys have dated back thousands of years to Egyptian surveyors dividing land along the Nile River and Australian surveyors trying to design their early settlements. Even famous explorers like Burke and Wills used their surveying background in their work. Yes, the tools and equipment may have changed over the years, but we’ve needed land surveying for as long as we’ve had land to develop.

But why are they so intricate to creating our structures? It isn’t just about plotting open spaces to place buildings and other structures upon. Surveyors work with lots of other important industries like engineering, geology, architecture and planning in order to create a successful construction site. They measure the land and map it all out before anyone even steps foot on the site. These findings are given to the architects, who create a blueprint based on the needs of the client. Once complete, engineers use those plans to create a structure that will be successful based on the land available. So, as you can see, land surveys are the environmental trackers of structural design.

To find out more about considering a land survey, please contact us at (800) CALVADA or visit www.calvada.com.

Calvada proudly serves Corona and all surrounding areas.

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Land Surveys: Are They Necessary? | Corona, CA

When deciding to purchase land it is important to know what you’re buying into, just like any other major investment. How large is the area, what kind of terrain is involved, and what does the surrounding area consist of? To find these answers, it is likely that you’ll need a land survey. I know what some may think – but is a survey really necessary?

When new land is being divided into various developments, it is important to have the land surveyed in order to ensure the land is used beneficially. Not only do surveys help plot out the land but surveyors are used in the design and planning of said land to make room for things like roads, utilities and landscaping. Yes, it may seem like a new-found industry, but we’ve needed land surveying for as long as we’ve had land to develop.

But why are they so intricate to creating our structures? Believe it or not, but it isn’t just about plotting open spaces to place buildings and other structures upon. Surveyors work with lots of other important industries like engineering, geology, architecture and planning in order to create a successful construction site. They measure the land and map it all out before anyone even steps foot on the site. These findings are given to the architects, who create a blueprint based on the needs of the client. Once complete, engineers use those plans to create a structure that will be successful based on the land available. So, as you can see, land surveys are the environmental trackers of structural design.

To find out more about considering a land survey, please contact us at (800) CALVADA or visit www.calvada.com.

Calvada proudly serves Corona and all surrounding areas.