Definition of "Land Surveyor"

Kyle McCarthy real estate agent

Written by

Kyle McCarthyelite badge icon

ReMax

When looking for the definition of a land surveyor, most definitions are quite simple and concise: a land surveyor is a person who measures the distance between two points, the angle between lines and the geographical position of a property in a professional manner. The information he/she collects is the base for property maps. One of the most important land surveys conducted is the one that determines the boundaries for ownership, also known as the boundary survey. A land surveyor has different attributions than an assessor or appraiser.  

There are many types of land surveys that can be ordered for different purposes. For example, a mortgage survey is usually requested by a mortgage company or a bank before issuing a loan. Site layout surveys are used by engineers and building companies to know exactly where to place the components of a building project or public constructions and utilities.

Depending on experience, a land surveyor may earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually. Land surveyors are in demand, and there will always be a need for land surveyors as the country will continue to expand its infrastructure. Some companies may hire surveyors only with a high school diploma or GED, but to be better prepared for the job, a 4-year bachelor’s degree in surveying, mapping, or geomatics is a great choice. Some states may also require a degree program approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Preparation for a land surveyor career also opens other opportunities, such as the possibility to work as a GPS technician, a deed and lease researcher or as a civil engineering assistant. Land surveyors may become members of the National Society of Professional Surveyors or the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) as well as The American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.

A land survey refers to the surface of the land, its topography and geographical coordinates (mapping), while a soil survey analyzes the chemical/organic composition of the soil, whether it is suitable for building or not, predicting how the soil will behave -it’s important to distinguish between these two.  

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

The prime rate, a benchmark interest rate banks use, plays a significant role in the real estate market. Essentially, it’s the interest rate that commercial banks charge their most ...

An offering of securities, stock and/or debt, directly to investors rather then through the public exchange markets. An advantage of a private placement to a real estate business is that ...

(1) Judgment against a defendant who does not respond to the plaintiffs lawsuit or fails to appear in court at the hearing or trial date. (2) Judgment issued by the court against the ...

Formal statement by an auditor, after through examination and consideration, as to whether a real estate company's financial statements fairly present financial position and operating ...

The appraisal approach is used to estimate the value of an asset, based on various factors to reach the closest educated guess of the asset. While an appraisal approach does consider the ...

Judicially determined minimum selling price for auctioned property. For example, a judge rules that a foreclosed home may be sold for less than $200,000, ...

person designating an agent to act for him. Primary individual having full financial liability. Amount being risked in a real estate investment. Owner of a real estate business. ...

A reciprocal transfer of property from one entity to another. A market for securities of a real estate companies, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ...

Legal proceeding whereby a person's property is attached and used to pay an obligation. The employer may withhold part of the employee's salary to the court until the debt has been paid. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions