Surveyor Rant

[TractorGuy]

Twice in the last year property adjoining mine has been surveyed. Both times the surveyor has come on my property and left behind huge nails stuck in the ground with a small piece of tape on them. This is 15 feet from my fence where I operate my tractors. Sure glad I found them before they ended up in a tire.

Florida law protects these guys from trespass laws but I feel violated when they cross my fence and leave things behind that can damage my equipment.

 

[coralhead]

Working as field crew for a surveyor we often placed "traverse marks" in the ground for reference marks and to set up the instrument. They usually have a guard stake w/flagging to help locate them, I am quite sure that they would not have used an area that was well traveled and subject to being disturbed by farm equipment. Unless the ground was being turned over for crops the nail being pounded straight down would remain there without being an obstruction. If you pulled them out, good for you, (sarcasm) it just makes the surveyors job harder to continue on. A hub and tack would have probably worked as well but they are easier to disturb.

 

[dodge man]

I've been surveying for 32 years and licensed for 22 years. Like already mentioned, the nails are traverse points. We set those to see the boundary corners and other items. Years ago I gave up trying to contact all the other adjoining land owners. To many wild goose chases trying to track them down. Illinois also is a right of entry state so we do have the right to go on other people's property.

I'll also add the way you feel is not unique. People can get very protective and emotional over their boundaries. I always enjoy talking to land owners and tell them what we are doing and how we do it. I feel educating the public is part of my job. My guess is the nails themselves aren't bothering you but the fact that they invaded your private space does. Like I say, the way you feel is pretty normal.

 

[TractorGuy]

Working as field crew for a surveyor we often placed "traverse marks" in the ground for reference marks and to set up the instrument. They usually have a guard stake w/flagging to help locate them, I am quite sure that they would not have used an area that was well traveled and subject to being disturbed by farm equipment. Unless the ground was being turned over for crops the nail being pounded straight down would remain there without being an obstruction. If you pulled them out, good for you, (sarcasm) it just makes the surveyors job harder to continue on. A hub and tack would have probably worked as well but they are easier to disturb.

I am quite sure they completed their task and left these behind with no concern for how I may use my property.

They tresspassed on my property to do a job for an adjoining property owner and left behind something that could damage my equipment. It's very obvious that I keep this path bush hogged and have been digging stumps and clearing it.

I have every right to be upset with these guys.

 

[kthompson]

I very much understand the OP and while understand sometimes tracking down the adjoining owners may be impossible have had what he is talking about happened twice by two different surveyors who both knew myself or my wife personally. One used point in our lawn to setup and was no more than 50 feet from our house. It would have been fine had he just call and left message but nothing. Just rude.
The second laughed when I told him be thankful I happened to walk part of a field of growing soybeans right before the combine and found paint can, wooden stakes and nails. I told him had the combine found it he would be liable for repairs which he said sorry operator. I very much remember when about 4 years later he needed my wife to agree on a common property line on another piece of property how polite he was. Oh yeah he used our clean property to work from for the junky land next door.
Again I understand not easy to reach some owners but when you know them it is inexcusable.

We had another crew on our property and they left wooden stakes in hay field. We were fortunate we were in process of rough cutting the field and not for hay. This crew did not know us.

Still not worst surveyor experience we have had. Then we have known and worked with some great professional crews.

When we needed a survey recently we did not call either of the two companies that treated our property with no respect even knowing them. I called another who had also survey adjoining property and he left NO footprint. A true professional.

To me you are uninvited guest, treat our property with respect, leave no footprint.

 

[prichard]

I am quite sure they completed their task and left these behind with no concern for how I may use my property.

...

I have every right to be upset with these guys.

I agree. These are temporary so they had no reason to leave them. As far as I can tell my surveyor never set foot on my neighbor's property and the only temporary markers left on mine were ribbons.

 

[dodge man]

I will admit, it can be akward having to go onto someone elses property to do your work. Image what it would be like if you had to go through your neighbors house to get to your bedroom. Thats almost what it feels like sometimes. Most of the time people understand but not always. I had the police called on me once because I was one step inside someones property on a survey in town. At the time I didn't know where the boundary was but I also suspected I was on the the adjoiners property. The police more or less told them they had to leave me alone. I pulled my nail an hour latter and was gone.

The reason the nails are often left behind is in case the surveyors have to come back. I tell landowners to pull them if they bother them. If its in ground you plow, that could be a problem and puncuture a tire. I try to always be aware of some kind of farm equipment sucking in a lath and hurting it. Like all professions, some guys are polite and aware of their impact on land owners, some guys not so much.

I will also add surveyors have an image problem with some people. We hear things like "every thing was fine until the surveyor showed up". "There was two surveyors and they can't even agree where the corners should be". "Why do you charge so much, my last survey only cost $xxxx". "The GIS doesn't show my boundary there". That is one reason I'm always trying to explain myself and educate land owners.

I will also say some problems related to boundarys are on the landowners. People will make the largest investment in their lives, a house or a piece of ground, and not pay to get it surveyed. Then when an adjoiner gets theirs surveyed, they are upset when the boundaries aren't where they thought they were. My opinion is landowners should always know where there boundaries are. I'm not talking to the nearest inch but a pretty good general idea.

Hope this helps seeing the point of view from the land surveyors side.

 

[TractorGuy]

My point of view is I invested in fences and gates so I don't see strangers rambling across my secluded property. This guy scared the **** out of my wife because she wasn't expecting to see someone on our property and was unaware that surveyors have rule of the land. If she hadn't seen him I wouldn't have know to go look for the nails and find them before uprooting them with my equipment. The least you guys could do is leave the property as you found it. If you want respect in this life you have to earn it.

 

[CobyRupert]

Remove and keep the nail handy in safe storage, with the surveyors contact information for the next 5-7 years.

If any of your vehicles, equipment or tractors happen to need a new tire(s) in the next 5-7 years, ....well, golly gee, guess what you just found that caused it. That tire just got a lot cheaper for you.
Dishonest? Maybe, but that's the price of their trespass, negligence and inconsideration. And what they'd have to pay anyways if you didn't happen to find it first.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold"

 

[zzvyb6]

I'd drive to his house or place of business and leave them under his tires, pointed upward. Only then will he get the message about his carelessness.

 

[coralhead]

A lot of the replies actually show the content of your characters. The nails are marked with guard stakes to show where they are. How did you know that the surveyor was finished with his work? Field work and office work go hand in hand and when the reference marks are removed then the work needs to be restated. Why does it cost so much to get a survey? You guys answered the question. My Rant

 

[dodge man]

Maybe I'll take one for the team and let you guys circle around me and beat me to death with baseball bats. All I can do is give you my perspective on it. There are a lot of organizations that get the same rap, utility companies, assessors, road commissioners, hunters etc. that are accused of not respecting people’s property. I can tell I'm not really going to say anything that will make you feel better but I feel the need to explain my profession and defend it.

 

[Thall303]

Worked with and around surveyors all my life.

Good people doing good work.

Some of you need to lighten up and get a life.

 

[T_e_r_r_y]

Dodgeman, Isn't it against the law to disturb or "annoy" any survey marker? I have one just 2' off the southwest corner of my garage,
6' from the center of the alley. Talked to city manager, didn't know anything. Called surveyor in next town, he said pin for corner of alley.
Going to let sleeping pins lie. Unless something comes up.

T. J.

 

[Clay45]

Once a property has been surveyed it should never need to be surveyed again unless being split or combined with adjoining property and a new platte required. Any adjoining properties should be entitled to a copy at no charge over and over again each time the ownership changes.

 

[dodge man]

As far as I know, and I'm sure it varies by state, but its against the law to tear out a property corner. Traverse points? Probably not against the law.

In theory, once a property is surveyed it shouldn't need it again. The problem is corners get knocked out, landowners don't show the new owners where the pins are etc. Share my work with adjoining land owners? Thats really up to the person I'm working for. In Illinois you aren't required to record surveys. I will say that most times I'm willing to show the adjoiners what I did unless the person I'm working for would forbid it, and I don't like to work for people like that.

 

[TractorGuy]

These nails were some sort of reference. Not an official marker. They were left 20 feet from the clearly visible concrete corner markers that have been in place for 35+ years. Only the surveyor would know what they meant but my guess is it was more convenient for him to come on my property where he has a clear line of sight than to remain on the property he was hired to survey.

I'm not some sort of extremist that would resort to revenge but I want to find out who the surveyor was and give them a piece of my mind. And further note I would never do business with anyone that has no respect for my personal property.

I also note the surveyors responding in this thread are defending the azzwipe that left these behind.

 

[TractorGuy]

I also know there are reputable, respectful surveyors. The company I hired left NO evidence they were there other than to place or mark the permanent corners. They even looked up and provided easement information for me 30 years after I paid them at no charge.

 

[dodge man]

I'm pretty sure you are correct, he set up on your property because it was easier. I'm not defending him, I'm just explaining it. There is a pretty good chance I would have done the same thing. Call him up and tell him how you feel, it might make you feel better.

I'll tell you how I feel. The nail might upset you and I get that in theory they could ruin a tire. I think you are upset that they went on your property without asking. Some states require notice, meaning they have to at least try and contact you. Thank goodness Illlinois isn't one of those states. It can be almost impossible to find land owners. If I'm working near someones house and I can see they are home, I almost always tell them what I'm doing and who for. If there isn't anybody home, I keep on working.

I hate to say it out loud, but when you realize as a private property owner your property isn't so private, you will be more understanding. They can come on your property to put a new meter in. They can take your property to build a road. They can force you to give an easement for utilities. Depending on your county, they can tell you how to put up a building, how far it has to be from a property line, they can even tell you what you can and can't do on your property. Do you get upset when the UPS guys drops a package at your door?

It was just a surveyor doing his job. Was he inconsiderate? Maybe. Did he break the law? Probably not but it depends on your state laws. Should he have pulled his nails? Like someone else said, mabye he wasn't done. Surveyors tend to be a pretty proud independant group of guys. If you call the guy, don't start out hating the guy or thats probably what you will get back at you. Just tell him your upset he left his nails behind and why it bothers you. You'll probably find out he is a pretty good guy.

 

[CobyRupert]

A lot of the replies actually show the content of your characters. The nails are marked with guard stakes to show where they are. How did you know that the surveyor was finished with his work? Field work and office work go hand in hand and when the reference marks are removed then the work needs to be restated. Why does it cost so much to get a survey? You guys answered the question. My Rant

Somebody comes onto your property and puts in sharp pointed nails sticking up? If my equipment, animals, family or myself gets injured they will surely see the content of my character.
They don't get to roll the dice with MY health, time and money. (I can do that very well myself, thank you)

That being said I should note I have nothing against surveyors, most are very professional, why in fact "some of my best friends are surveyors"