Land Surveyor in Alvin: What People Ask

Straight answers for Alvin, the things people actually ask before hiring.

Can't a GPS app on my phone show me my property lines?

No. A phone's GPS is accurate to several feet at best and isn't tied to your deed or the corner monuments, so the lines those apps draw are approximate and carry no legal weight. Survey-grade GNSS fixes a point to the centimeter against a reference network, a different instrument for a different job.

How long does a boundary survey take?

Most residential lots take a few hours in the field once the research is done, but the whole job usually runs one to three weeks start to finish, record research, scheduling the field crew, computing the boundary, and drafting the sealed plat all take time. Acreage and parcels with conflicting deeds take longer.

Will a survey show easements and things crossing my property?

A boundary survey with improvements locates visible features and the easements shown in the record, utility lines, drainage, access, and any structures near the lines. A full ALTA goes further. If a recorded easement doesn't show on your deed, the title research is where it turns up, which is one reason the record work matters.

What do you need from me before you start?

The property address and, if you have them, a copy of your deed, any prior survey, and your title commitment. Access to walk the property helps, and if there's a specific reason for the survey, a fence, a sale, a building permit, telling us up front lets us scope it right the first time.

What's the difference between a boundary survey and an ALTA survey?

A boundary survey locates and marks your property lines. An ALTA/NSPS survey is a detailed standard used for commercial real-estate deals, it adds easements, improvements, and specific 'Table A' items that lenders and title insurers require. An ALTA is more thorough and costs more because it shows far more detail.

What is construction staking?

It's marking the site so the contractor builds in the right place, offset stakes for the foundation, grade stakes for elevations, and layout for utilities, all set from the engineered plans. It's done in stages as the job progresses, which is why it's usually quoted per visit rather than as one flat fee.

Why is my survey more expensive than my neighbor's?

Price tracks the work, not the lot size alone. A clean platted lot with good corners is quick; a parcel with missing monuments, conflicting deeds, heavy tree cover, or a metes-and-bounds description takes far more research and field time. We quote after we see the deed and the record, so the number is real.

If your question isn't here, call (346) 603-6350 and just ask.