The 3 Hidden Costs of Not Hiring a Land Surveyor

First, let’s discuss the function of a land surveyor. What these professionals primarily do is assess the exterior lines associated with a property and advise the owners of that land on how to build their structure. What makes this process so crucial is that some developers make the mistake of building in someone else’s property. This error can lead to a multitude of costs. We present the three most important of them in the sections below.

Legal Bills

One of the most substantial expenses you stand to suffer are the ones associated with the law. The reason is that if you get into a land dispute, you will need professional assistance. Those that try to represent themselves almost never succeed, and instead, get taken advantage of by the opposition.

While your legal bills may be worth the money, the cost will be significant. The fact of the matter is that most lawyers charge C$200/hr at the absolute minimum, while many go as high as C$700/hr. Additionally, they often log hours for tasks you might not expect them to, like talking on the phone. The result for you, the client, is incredibly high costs. The best way to avoid them altogether is by hiring a Northern Manitoba land surveyor, who will give you an accurate idea of where your property ends. That way, you won’t have to fight to keep whatever you built that was over the line.

Construction

Above, we described the costs associated with a legal battle. Another expense that can come back to haunt you comes about when you lose that case or choose not to pursue it. The reason this pitfall might come about is that you build a structure on someone else’s property. Once that person or organization finds out, they could demand that you get off of their land.

At this point, you’ll need to hire a construction crew. Whether that is to renovate or demolish will depend on your situation, but no matter what, the cost will be considerable. A surveyor will protect you by making sure you never make this mistake in the first place.

Landscaping

Lastly, you have landscaping costs. Much like having a structure on someone else’s land, you could have bushes or trees on it. While the cost to remove these plants will be much less than a building, you will still have a large bill at the end of it. Once again, getting your land surveyed before you make significant developments will keep you from overstepping your boundaries.

Bonus: How to Increase Your Savings Even More

What we’ve covered so far are the expenses that you can bypass by hiring a land surveyor. The other side of the coin is how much you pay that company and how good of a job they do. Make sure your provider checks the following two boxes before hiring them.

Hire an Excellent Surveyor – If the surveyor does subpar work, you could end up with double expenses. The first is for that professional, and the rest will be made up of the three we discussed in the sections above. Getting an incorrect assessment is damaging, so be careful with which firm you choose for the job.
Do it at a Reasonable Price – The price you will end up paying your surveyor depends on a variety of factors, the most important being the size of your land. Still, we can make generalizations on price. A typical job will cost somewhere between C$450 and C$700, while certain rare properties end up being upwards of C$1,000.

Whether you’re a real estate developer or a Canadian citizen merely trying to purchase a home, hiring a land surveyor is in your best interest. Not only will this professional not cost you much, but you will protect yourself from the three hidden expenses on this list. Ultimately, you want to safeguard yourself against significant costs, and in the real estate business, calling up a surveyor is an excellent way to do so.