Tuesday, June 6, 2017

ALTA Land Title Surveys Georgia Courts Record Are Important Legal Documents

By Laura Howard


Buyers who purchase lots or homes on lots in established subdivisions rarely have to worry about a survey. The one on record will be accurate. Buying acreage tracts is a different story. It will be necessary to have the property surveyed if you are buying a parcel out of a larger tract. You will also need a survey if the last one done was not metes and bounds or is out of date. In the case of a dispute, the ALTA land title surveys Georgia courts have on record can decide the outcome.

Not all legal descriptions are metes and bounds. If they are old, they may reference a point, like a particular tree or creek, that no longer exists or has changed in configuration. Without a new and detailed survey, it may be impossible to accurately access where one person's land ends and another's begins. This can be especially unfortunate for a landowner who inadvertently builds a structure that encroaches on his or her neighbor's land.

It is possible that you and your neighbor share ownership of a driveway or road located on the boundary line between your two properties. If that is the case, you are both responsible for maintaining the shared space. If you have a neighbor whose property is landlocked, there may be a recorded easement through your property that allows your neighbor access through your land to get to a street or highway.

Utility companies normally have the right to access any utility poles or underground cables that run over or under your property. Your survey will show you where the utility easements are, which will be important if you decide to build a house or barn or dig a pond. If you are going to farm your acreage, you will need to know where the wells are.

Many counties have regulations about curb cuts and driveways. They may only allow a certain number within a particular area. The county may determine the allowable width of the drives as well. This can be especially important for commercial developers planning entrances to parking areas and construction sites.

Surveyors don't just map boundary lines. They also position any existing improvements on the property at the time of the survey in the drawing submitted for recording. This will let the owner know whether there are any height or setback restrictions that have to comply with county ordinances. Surveyors will also outline the position of any cemeteries located on the land.

Your survey will also include zoning jurisdiction and classifications. If the zoning regulations are unclear to you, you need to make an appoint with the commission to get a ruling on what exactly you have the right to build on your property and what you can do with it once it's finished. It is possible to file an exception.

A detailed metes and bounds survey can be expensive, and many property buyers are tempted to skip it to save money. Experienced landowners will advise against this. You may save some money on the front end, but it might cost you dearly in the future.




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