Home Improvements that Require a Site Plan Survey

There was a time when most people wanting to upgrade their home would sell up and buy another, but these days a lot more people are choosing to improve / renovate the home they are in, largely due to the high monetary transactional costs involved when selling and purchasing again. It’s not uncommon for those costs to range between $40,000 and $100,000, a sum that can otherwise pay for substantial home improvements.

Engaging a land surveyor can be crucial for many projects around the home, especially those that involve property boundaries, building structures, or land development or issues that can be impacted by legal issues. Here are some projects for which it would be a requirement or at the very least wise to engage a land surveyor as part of your home improvement team.

Site Planning and Design

If you are planning to develop your land for whatever purpose, a land surveyor can help you with site planning and design. A comprehensive Site Plan should be the very 1st thing organised before any serious design work is commenced. A detailed survey of the land, including topography, boundaries, and potential obstacles will help your building design and will identify obstacles and opportunities available. Your Architect will love you for it.

Site Plans aid designers to get it right 1st time, saving you money and they'll be much happier too!

Additions and Extensions

If you're planning a major addition or renovation to your home, it's important to ensure that it complies with building regulations and codes. A land surveyor can provide a topographic survey of your property, which can help identify any potential issues with drainage, elevation, or other factors that could affect the construction process.

House rising and re-stumping.

Lots of people have discovered the ample space beneath their home that can be achieved simply by raising their home. Most zonings have building height limitations however, so you need to ensure that you do not exceed those. What’s more, the BCA [building code of Australia] provides for increased boundary setbacks above certain building heights. You’d be wise to organise a survey before moving ahead with a project like this. You'll need building location and height certification before final approvals are granted.

Flood Zone Determination

If your property is located in a flood zone, a land surveyor can help you determine the exact location of the flood zone boundaries, both horizontally and vertically. They can provide you with a detailed flood survey of the property to help ensure that any proposed development meets Council flood zone regulations.

What’s more, many insurance companies these days are seeking flood hazard certification to determine the likelihood of the property flooding. Favourable flood hazard certification may repay the survey cost many times over by way of cheaper insurance premiums.

Adding a carport requires a survey especially if it's on or near a boundary

New Building Construction

When constructing a new building on your land such as a carport, shed or granny flat, a land surveyor can help ensure that the building is constructed in the correct location on your property. They can also provide you with detailed set out surveys of the site to help ensure that the building meets zoning regulations and building code requirements such as boundary setbacks and fire prevention separation.

Fences and boundary retaining walls.

Before installing a fence, it's important to determine the exact property lines and ensure that the fence is on those boundaries. This is especially true if there is a retaining wall involved as the law recognises retaining walls differently to boundary fences. A land surveyor can help identify property lines clearly showing where to place the retaining wall or fence. This is something that should definitely not be taken lightly.

Pool Installation – Landscaping

Before installing a pool, it's important to ensure that it complies with building regulations and that it's within the property boundaries. A land surveyor can help identify the property lines and provide advice on where to place the pool.

That also applies if you're planning to make significant changes to your landscaping, such as installing a retaining wall or grading the land. A land surveyor can provide a topographic survey of your property, which can help identify any potential issues with drainage, elevation, or other factors that could affect the landscaping process.

There are several reasons you'll need a survey when installing a pool or granny flat

Drainage Issues

If you're experiencing drainage issues on your property, a land survey can help identify the cause and provide useful information on how to address the problem. It can also help determine the best location for drainage systems, such as inlet grates, retention ponds or swales.

Easement and Rights-of-Way

If you need to establish an easement or right-of-way on your property, a land surveyor can help you determine the exact location of the easement or right-of-way. They can also provide you with a detailed survey of the area to help ensure that the easement or right-of-way meets legal requirements and what is provided for in the documentation registered with the land title.

Land Subdivision

Increasingly people are seeking to subdivide their land with a view to paying for those extensive home improvements or just simply pay off the mortgage. If you are planning to subdivide your land, a land surveyor can help you determine the exact boundaries and lot sizes required for obtaining subdivision approvals from local government agencies.

Property Purchases

Surveys can be very useful and a worthwhile investment to make even before you own a property. When purchasing a property, a land surveyor can help ensure that the property boundaries are accurately depicted in the deed and legal description. They can also provide you with a detailed survey of the property to help you understand the exact location of the boundaries and any potential issues with the property. You’d be surprised how often boundary fences are actually not on the boundary.

In summary, engaging a land surveyor can be essential for many home improvement projects. They can provide you with the accurate survey plans, boundary locations, and other details you need to ensure the success of your project and avoid potential legal issues or arguments with neighbours. Talk to us - we've already surveyed most parts of Brisbane.

Surveys will tell you exactly where your boubaries and other improvements really are