Common Questions and Answers
Why Meridian? — Because You Want Cost Effective Project Completion With State-Of-The-Art Technologies And Procedures — On Time Solutions.
Education, real world experience and goal oriented communication as evidenced by thousands of satisfied clients ensures that you too, will receive a high quality survey.
We APPRECIATE the opportunity to be part of your team. Our primary goal is to support successful project completion by isolating a clear scope and then providing cost effective and timely solutions. To reach this goal, the Meridian team utilizes state-of-the-art technologies and procedures that integrate work products effectively into the total design and construction process.
We monitor and document conditions, produce base maps for design, resolve boundary issues, resolve Title issues, perform independent hydrographic surveys, certify quantities, provide Quality Assurance checks and provide survey grade models (BIM) using High Definition 3D Scanning. Note that anyone can buy the latest equipment but how do they back it up? How do you know their data is Survey Grade? We are frequently hired to fix significant issues created by non-surveyors who are not licensed or insured.
Key Differentiating Factors:
- Independent 3rd Party California State Licensed Land Surveyor(s)
- Education: BS Survey & Photogrammetry
- Extensive Experience surveying Land, Air and Water
- Applying the right tool (technology) to meet the client’s needs.
- We will tailor our schedule to meet your schedule whenever possible.
- Four offices to serve you.
Our principal is a licensed Californina Professional Land Surveyor with a degree in Surveying and Photogrammetry. Education combined with Real World Experience as evidenced by thousands of satisfied Clients can pay dividends
PROBLEMS WE CAN HELP YOU SOLVE
Meridian Surveying Engineering Helps You Isolate And Correct Title Issues. Save Time And Money — Maintain Neighborly Relations — Out Of Court.
New Construction Encroachments And Setback Violations
Below is a real world example of how new construction without a proper survey can result in thousands of dollars of damages and liability. The home was not built within the building envelope and the walls encroach onto the neighbors and the public right of way. In some cases a Survey will reveal Title Issues that no one knew about.
In some States a survey is required before close of escrow. Unfortunately, in California that is not the case. We literally receive calls daily from clients who have significant title Issues. In most cases, it would have been better to have resolved title issues prior to close of escrow. There is a very real NIMBY attitude in California, and Land Title Issues can bring out strong emotions on all sides when a new neighbor moves in and tries to make things right.
Examples of Title Problems — Typical Issues include:
- Fences may not be where you think they are
- Ingress/Egress issues – road is not in an easement
- Incorrect acreage (square footage)
- Encroachments (by others onto your property or vice versa)
- Conformance with setbacks & current zoning that affect future additions
- Easements of record may limit/ affect current & future use
- Easements that should be of record and are not
- Slope Restrictions
These are a few of the reasons to hire a well educated and experienced California Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). A good PLS should help you save time and money while hopefully maintaining neighborly relations.
A PLS can help isolate, understand and correct Title Issues. A PLS can provide a myriad of technical solutions to resolve title issues including Easements, Lot Line Adjustments, Certificate of Compliance, Record of Survey and Mediation Support & Expert Witness.
Most issues can be resolved out of court by working with a team composed of Client, PLS, Title Company and in some cases a Client Attorney.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Do You Have Surveying Questions? — Our Land Surveyors give Professional Answers for Aerial, Hydrographic, Commercial and any other Surveys.
Q: What does a Surveyor do and how do they do it?
A: How the Profession Serves the Public may answer some of your basic questions.
Q: I don’t want a Record of Survey why do I have to have one?
A: Civil Code Section 8762 should answer your questions about why and when a Record of Survey is required. Please note that Section 8762 uses the word SHALL FILE a Record of Survey when any of items (a-e) are encountered. A Record of Survey is not optional in any of those cases. In some cases a Record of Survey may be triggered as an additional service as a result of evidence found during the field survey.
Q: Do you perform all types of surveys?
A: In general, YES. SERVICES include Hydrographic Surveys and Aerial (Photogrammetric) Surveys. If we don’t offer a service we will be happy to refer you to a specialist.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: Send us your Title Report and/or Plans and describe your issue or what you are doing. We’ll research it and give you a price and timeline. REQUEST A SURVEY
Q: Why does it cost so much for a survey?
A: The CLSA brochure answers this question, but in a nutshell there is a lot going on behind the scenes to enable a Professional Land Surveyor to perform surveys in addition to liability, experience and knowledge.
Q: How quickly can you do it?
A: Tell us your timeline – we can run up to 4 crews and in an emergency can sometimes help the same day. We will not do any work without a signed Agreement for Professional Services.
Q: Will you take sides in a disagreement?
A: No, the Surveyor surveys what your Title Company insures while protecting the rights of all adjoining property owners and the Public Right-Of-Way. The Surveyor reports just the facts pro or con. Obviously the Surveyor works for you and will perform the scope of services under the Agreement for Professional Services. If it is a court case you might want your attorney to be the Client to maintain confidentiality.
Q: I can’t find my Title Report. How do I get one?
A: If you know the name of your Title Company you may call them, ask for customer service and ask them to email/fax you a copy of your existing Report. Note that if it says “Preliminary Title Report” they should now issue you a Report that says “Policy of Title Insurance”. The Preliminary Report was just a draft and is not your actual Policy. The Surveyor is not liable for any errors or omissions in a Preliminary Title Report.
Q: I’m not comfortable giving you my Title Report. Why do you need it?
A: The Surveyor is liable for surveying what your Title Company insures. Your Title Report also contains key contact information which will aid in research and to resolve any Title issues or typical PROBLEMS that may surface. It also contains exceptions such as easements which would not necessarily show up in the grant deed. You would not want a Surveyor to miss an easement that affects your property (only to discover it an inopportune time later).
Q: I don’t have a loan and therefore do not have Title insurance. What should I send you?
A: Send a copy of your grant deed and any easements or other documents you are aware of. We may still need you to engage a Title Company depending on your project needs.
Q: I have an old Survey and other documents. Do you want copies of them?
A: Yes. Any and all relevant documents should be provided to the Surveyor along with any personal knowledge you have about the history of your land.
Q: Do I have to file a Record of Survey after the survey is complete?
A: Yes, to repeat – if a survey is performed and certified that discloses any of items (a- e) listed in Section 8762 the Surveyor SHALL FILE a Record of Survey.
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Meridian Surveying Engineering, Inc., provides professional surveying, planning and engineering support services to Municipalities, Contractors, Developers, A/E firms, Utilities and homeowners. Since 1982, Meridian and RGA have provided services in strategically located offices in San Francisco, Central San Rafael & Sacramento Delta / Antioch areas to better serve the San Francisco Bay Area. Meridian has a large array of state of the art equipment and can recommend and provide clients with the ideal tool for any survey project, land, air or sea. Meridians services are scalable and we are capable of handling both large and small scale jobs. Our turnaround time for job completion is among the best in the industry. Our staff has extensive experience and a diverse educational background in Surveying Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Geology, Geography, Mathematics and GIS with related specialties. Whether you need to locate a fence in your backyard or need a hydrographic survey or an array of services for a large construction project, Meridian’s services will prove to be both timely and effective.