Surveyor Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What exactly does a surveyor do when you are selling your property? I have a surveyor coming to my house as I am selling up. Does anyone have any idea what they actually do when they arrive?

Answer: they go around your entire house looking for any faults which the purchaser should know about. they adivse on any work that should be done before the property is purchased and and the actual market value of the property.

Question: What are the roles of a Quantity Surveyor in promoting and helping to create Sustainable Construction? Quantity Surveyor is also known as a Building Cost Consultant or a Construction Estimator. So I'm curious as to what part can a QS play when it comes to embracing the environment and developing Sustainable Construction.

Answer: These guys are really just bean counters. They just keep track of costs, or estimate costs for proposals of a new building. Maybe they can find savings from one part of a project to spend on a "sustainable" part of the project. You need the architect of record to be the one pushing for sustainable construction. Also the owner of the project has to really want to do it. Things like geothermal HVAC systems and living roofs with solar panels are great for sustainable construction. But the up front cost are ENORMOUS! A typical HVAC sytem for a commercial building is about $40,000. A geothermal system in the same building is $500,000. It will pay itself off in the long run, but that could be 15-20 years. Govenment might be able to afford those kinds of upgrades for a school or library that they plan on using for 80 years; but a developer that's trying to make money isn't going to want to spend 10 or 20 times the cost just to "be green".

Question: Is it possible to become a California professional land surveyor with a degree in Civil Engineering? I am currently enrolled in UC Davis as a civil engineering major. I want to become a licensed professional land surveyor. The only colleges in california that offer a surveying program are cal state fresno and pomona, but I want to stay in a University of California.

Answer: You should review the requirements from the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. A degree in anything will not get you a Survey license, not even one from Fresno. You will need to sit for and pass two separate 8 hour examinations with a bit of work experience in between them. Education will help, but it is not the direct route. You should log on to their website (http://www.pels.ca.gov/ ) and read thru the requirements and process so that you can adjust your education and perhaps frame your summer jobs. good luck.. Its a good profession.. almost recession proof since in California there are only about 4,000 licensed surveyors, many of them are retired or slowing down, and its a damn big state . You may also want to check the California Land SUrveyors Association website for other information that may help. .

Question: What laws are there to keep a surveyor from stealing our land? A surveyor is surveying for a new housing project and says he is taking a six foot wide strip of land from our feild. What laws are there that protect our property? We live in Idaho.

Answer: When any other person/entity intentionally enters into real property lawfully owned by another, the cause of action is known as "trespass." Idaho and probably all states have laws the define a trespass and how to remedy it (see the link below). If you believe that your property is being trespassed upon via an inaccurate survey, encroachment, squatting, fencing, or some other method, you must give notice of the trespass to the trespasser (in writing to support your case), with the directive to remove themselves and/or their improvements immediately from your land. Here, it may be the person who hired the surveyor. If the land is rightfully owned by you and they do not comply, you probably have a right to file suit for trespass, including damages and maybe attorney's fees. Good luck!

Question: How do you make a claim against your surveyor? I recently had a quote done for some woodworm treatment in my house, and while in the loft, the bloke found that a firewall was missing in part of the loft. He said if that wasn't mentioned in my house survey (which was a HomeBuyer's survey), it should have been. I've checked my survey and there is no mention of any missing firewall. So how do I go about making a claim against the surveyor? Thanks!!

Answer: You'll be lucky.......99.5% of surveyors have a clause in their contracts, covering them from anything they miss in any of their surveys. My house had the chimney breast removed from downstairs and upstairs, with the remainder left hovering in the loft. This should have been noticed by my lazy so-called surveyor, but wasn't. I followed this up with a visit to a solicitor, only to find that i couldn't do a thing about it because of this hidden clause. I wonder if he'll notice me breaking his nose, when i bump into him next...????

Question: How do you find out EXACTLY where your property line is? Do you need a surveyor? How much does it cost? How do you find out EXACTLY where your property line is? Do you need a surveyor? How much does it cost, roughly, to obtain this information/have someone mark your property line?

Answer: if you think you know where your property lines are, try to find a metal spike in the ground at that point. you'll need to find all four. did you receive a copy of the property bounds when you went to settlement. it can give you some information that way. like how far from each side of the house is the property line. i have mine and it's very descriptive. maybe you local tax office can supply you with such information. you'd be surprised how many people are dumbfounded to find out that what they THOUGHT was their property, actually wasn't theirs. iv'e seen it happen several times to neighbors who live near me. whenever a property is getting ready to be sold a survey is always? done, so there's no conflict as to what belongs to who. all properties are not simple squares or shapes. my propert LOOKS like a 100 x 150 foot propert, but in reality the front is only 99 foot and because of that to make it 100 x 150 the back of the propert is 113foot remember that one foot difference runs for 150 feet. gee all they do is survey and tir a colored ribbon at the propert line. years ago the used coner stones and spikes. i was able to find several of mine. i believe they also use some kind of a marker in the middle of the street that looks like a nail driven ito the paving. that's how they tell where they are geographicly. sorry about running on.

Question: What is the best way to become a Land Surveyor? What school options are there for becoming a surveyor in the state of CA? I have only located two universities with degrees for surveying. One of them is Fresno state and the other is Cal Poly Pomona.

Answer: Here it Florida, the laws have recently changed so that in order to sit for the state exam to become licensed, a four year degree in a related field is required. I became licensed before that requrement took effect, but I fulfilled the requirements require at the time. A four year degree is a very valuable tool, but "geomatics" programs are only offered in one university in Florida. Even after graduating from such a program, you will still not have practical experience from "hands on" field work. It is important to know the mathmatics and legal aspects of surveying, but actually doing the field work and computations is very important in order to become good at it. I just happen to be very good at it, but I have been doing it for 34 years.

Question: Where can I find a geological surveyor to survey my land for oil? I own the mineral rights and 250 acres in North East Oklahoma. How can I find a surveyor to do an initial survey. I want to foot the bill for the survey and exploratory drilling so I get the majority of the profits if we find oil. I can foot the bill for 50K or so before I will need any help.

Answer: You could do some research about the rock formations in your area. This can be done at the local USGS or state geological survey. Least you could find out if the right sedimentary formations and cap rock exists under your property. The next step would be to have a geologist interpret the area to find the best place to drill. Idealy you want to drill over a mound or upward bend in the formation where petroleum is likely to concentrate or pool in fractures. The only way to know for sure is to drill a "wild cat well" and hope for the best. As far as a specific surveyor Oklahoma has quite a few wells, I'm sure the advertise. Or most drillers and surveyors have some license with the state geologic survey. Can ask them for one near you.

Question: what is the difference between a chartered surveyor and just a surveyor? what is the difference between a chartered surveyor and just a surveyor?

Answer: Anyone can call themselves a 'surveyor'. In UK, a chartered surveyor is a member of The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. These are qualified individuals, who can provide a valuable service to the public in relation to house surveys, disaster management, land and construction.

Question: Land Surveying Classes- How do you become a registered land surveyor? My boyfriend is interested in becoming a registered land surveyor. He has been doing it for three years. We dont know where to start to find out about colleges and what the prerequisites are.

Answer: Different states have different requirements. In Florida, a 4 year college degree in Land Surveying or a related field is required. When I got my surveying license in 1990, there was no education requirement, but 6 years in responsible charge of a field crew and 6 months of office calculations and drafting were required along with references from 6 other licensed land surveyors.

Question: where can I find training as a surveyor? I want to switch careers and become a surveyor or part of a surveying team. I never see courses at my community college offering this. Are there any online or specialty courses for this. I would like to do this for the mining industry, or real estate. Anyone done this?

Answer: www.baker.edu

Question: What jobs can a building surveyor be engaged? I'm now looking for companies to apply internship. but i wonder what else position in the market can a building surveryor take except quantity surveyor?

Answer: » Job description Building surveyors provide professional advice on all aspects of property and construction. They work on site with new buildings and are concerned with the aftercare and performance of existing buildings. This is a very wide field and may include advising on various aspects of buildings at different stages, including: * design; * maintenance; * repair; * dilapidations; * refurbishment; * restoration; * sustainability. The nature of the work may range from the design of large, multimillion-pound structures to modest adaptations and repairs, and sometimes includes working with buildings of architectural or historic importance. Building surveyors may be called upon to give evidence in court in cases where building regulations have been breached and as expert witnesses on building defects and dilapidations. » Typical work activities Building surveyors work in many areas of property and construction so the work is diverse and rarely routine. Tasks typically involve: * ensuring projects are completed on budget and on time; * advising clients on schemes and projects and determining requirements; * preparing scheme designs with costings, programmes for completion of projects and specification of works; * preparing documents for tender and advising on appointing contractors, designers and procurement routes; * determining the condition of existing buildings, identifying and analysing defects, including proposals for repair; * advising on energy efficiency, environmental impact and sustainable construction; * advising on the preservation/conservation of historic buildings; * advising on management and supervision of maintenance of buildings; * dealing with planning applications and advising on property legislation and building regulations; * assessing and designing buildings to meet the needs of people with disabilities; * advising on construction design and management regulations; * negotiating dilapidations (when there is a legal liability for a property's state of disrepair); * carrying out feasibility studies; * advising on the health and safety aspects of buildings; * advising on boundary and rights of light disputes and party wall procedures; * preparing insurance assessments and claims.

Question: What are the federal and state requirements to work as marine and cargo surveyor in Florida? I was acting as a marine and cargo surveyor in South America and I recently moved to the U.S. and want to know what are requirements in order to pursue this career in the State of Florida

Answer: I doubt it would be much different. also, i don't think this is the place to be asking. :/

Question: Word problem, A surveyor wants to find the distance between points A and B? A surveyor wants to find the distance between points A and B on opposite sides of a pond. With her transit at point A, she determines a line of sight at right angles to AB and establish point C along this line 150 feet from A. Then she measures the angle at C from CA to CB and finds it to be 62degrees10'. How far is it from A to B?

Answer: AB = AC tan

Question: Is there any way to find out exactly where the property lines are on my house without the cost of a surveyor? When i bought my house there was no fence between my neighbor and i. Recently my neighbor put up an 8ft. high fence on what he said was the property line. The only way for me to find out if he was correct is to hire a surveyor that i know of, but the cost to do that isn't cheap from what i have heard. So i'm looking for an inexpensive way, one that i can do myself if i need too to find out this information.

Answer: If you rent a magnetic locator.... or borrow one, you can use it to find your property corners which are probably 6" to a foot deep. It would help to know your lot dimensions first by either using the survey you got when you bought the property or by getting a copy of the recorded plat of your subdivision from the county public records. I'm a surveyor in florida.

Question: How much does a chartered building surveyor get payed? All i want to know is how much a chartered building surveyor earns a year! Any answers will help! thanks

Answer: Between £22,000 and £130,000 depending upon how good he is, how hard he works, where he works and whether he's a partner.