You would think that with all the decades of experience homebuilders have, and with all the technology that we have at our fingertips that we would be able to know just how big of a house can fit on a lot without “going over”. Apparently, that’s not always the case. We are human, we aren’t going to get things exactly correct every time – and we should leave ourselves a little bit of wiggle room.
Here are two recent examples of homes that were too big for the lot. Granted, we’re not talking about feet of error, but even a few inches can cause insurability issues from a title insurance perspective. There are several questions the underwriter for the title company will ask including the following:
- What is the risk to us financially?
- What if the utility company needs to access that area?
- What if a utility line has to be moved?
- What if a new easement needs to be created?
- What is the likelihood that this will be an issue in the future?
- What would it take to resolve this issue?
- Getting variances/easement vacations from the utility companies.
- Is planning and zoning going to approve or charge a fee?
In these examples, it appears that the builders and homeowners desire to maximize the square footage of the homes that could be built on the lot. Keep in mind that just because something is “new” that it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is “error free”. Working closely with your title company representative will be the key to resolving issues like these. Having a Boundary Survey performed by a professional land surveyor will provide you with the maximum amount of detail with the highest level of accuracy.
Cardinal Surveying would like the opportunity to earn your business. They service the greater St Louis Metro area, have been rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau since 2003, have surveyed over 27,000 properties and are a family owned company who prides themselves on producing accurate results with exceptional customer service. They can be contacted via email at [email protected] or phone at 636.922.1001. They look forward to working with you for all your land surveying needs.