Frequently Asked Questions
How can I request a quote? There are 3 ways you can request a quote for a survey: 1) You can fill out the information on the Forms page and click the “estimate only” check box. 2) You can download the form and email to orders@4msurvey.com 3) You can call our office at (321) 210-0446 and one of our experienced staff members will assist you.
How can I request a survey and/or elevation certificate? There are 3 ways you can request a survey or elevation certificate: 1) You can fill out the information on the Forms page and select the type of survey needed and/or “elevation certificate”. 2) You can download the form and email to orders@4msurvey.com 3) You can call our office at (321) 210-0446 and one of our experienced staff members will assist you.
Do you accept credit card payments? Yes you can click the “pay now” button on the website or call the office.
When is payment due? Payment is due at the time service is rendered or at the time of closing if the property is part of a closing.
Can I pay before the survey is complete? Yes we offer a 10% discount for payments in advance.
If I order a survey what is the time to completion? We strive to get all surveys drawn and completed within 3 business days from the date of order. That being said some surveys may take longer depending on weather delays, issues with getting documents, more complicated surveys etc. We do our best to get the surveys done as quickly as possible. If you need a more accdurate completion estimate please request an estimate.
Why does the lender say I need a survey? Typically the lender requires a survey to make sure there are no physical issues with the property that may affect title to the property before they approve lending the money.
If I have a previous survey do I need another survey? This is a question for your title company and/or lending institution. Each company has specific time requirements and sometimes improvements are known to have been constructed since the date of the last survey.
If I have a previous survey will it reduce the price of a survey I order from your company? This depends on the complexity of the survey and the type of survey to be performed. A previous survey is always helpful in finding property corners and verifying our product coincides with a prior survey. That being said a new survey must be performed by the survey company you hire. While a prior survey can be of use it is of limited use as everything still must be reverified. Depending on the complexity of the survey to be performed and how much a prior survey is of use has a direct impact on the cost benefit of the prior survey.
I am paying cash for my property do I still need a survey? In our opinion it is always best to get a survey when purchasing property even if it is not required for closing. A survey gives important insight on the location of property lines and improvements that cross the property lines or lie in easements from either your property or the neighboring properties. Even if this is not a concern for you it may adversely affect the sale price of the property if you try to sell in the future.
Why would I need an elevation certificate? Sometimes an elevation certificate is a requirement of the construction process. You would need to check with the local governing authority to see if this is a requirement for your property. Otherwise if the BUILDING lies in a special flood hazard area it is a federal requirement for a lender to require flood insurance for a new closing. This does not prevent the lender from placing more stringent requirements, such as if any portion of the property is in the flood hazard area, on obtaining flood insurance. An elevation certificate is commonly required for flood insurance.
I have had a loan for my property for years. Now my lender is telling me I have to get flood insurance and need an elevation certificate. Why? FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are based on historical data and are subject to change. Oftentimes with the benefit of more accurate information or due to the existence of significant construction in the vicinity the floodplain limits are subject to change as the watershed has changed. If a new flood map has been issued it could take a property that was previously out of a special flood hazard area and put it into a special flood hazard area.
I have a previous elevation certificate. Why does it not match the one your firm completed? Please inform us immediately about discrepancies on any product we produce. We will request you send us a copy of the other certificate and we will look into it. If we feel we have made a mistake, we will correct ours immediately. Some common items that may change between certificates include if a new map and base flood elevation has been determined, if the certificates were done in different elevation datums, if a different benchmark was used for each certificate there could be slight differences in the elevations. These are common items that would not warrant a revision in the certificate. Please note just because a policy was written on a prior elevation certificate does not automatically make that certificate more accurate.
My neighbor says the survey performed by your company is wrong and doesn’t match the survey he had done previously. Please help. Please inform us immediately when there is an issue with one of our products. Whenever possible please ask to see their survey and make a copy or take a clear picture of it with your phone. We will request you send us a copy of your neighbor’s survey. Once received we will look into the issue. If we determine the issue is on our end we will correct the issue as soon as possible. We would ask that you please do not confront your neighbor further on the issue until a decision has been made. Please note…a survey that was done before yours does not mean it is automatically correct.
My neighbor and I disagree about our boundary line. What kind of survey is required to resolve the issue? While the Florida statutes allow for the determination of a single boundary line the location of the line must be verified and harmonized with the surrounding properties, control and monumentation therefore a Boundary Survey would be needed. You can request improvements not be located or only certain improvements (like fences along the line) be located to cut down on the price.
I want to build a fence, pool or other construction do I need a survey? It is always best to have a survey done when doing any construction work near the property lines. Each jurisdictional body within the State has different requirements for different construction items. If you are hiring a contractor they should know the requirements. If they do not you would need to confirm what is required by the local governing body.
Do you need access inside the house when performing the survey? We will need access inside the yard and in any porches or pool areas. We do not need access inside the residence unless we are doing an elevation certificate. Elevation certificates sometimes require us to access the inside of the residence to get the elevation of the 2nd story or of a sunken living room for example.
What if I want to be there for the survey? Generally we will notify the seller the day we intend to complete the survey. If you wish to be there we can try to schedule a “first job” time for you. Please be aware that a survey takes time to complete. Just because a property corner is uncovered it does not mean that is “your corner”. The data must be collected and brought back to the office and calculated to determine the true location of the property corners. If you are there when the crew arrives you may wait sometimes 2 or 3 hours or more, depending on the complexity of the survey, for its completion. We recommend we contact you within about a half hour of completion so you are not waiting. If you cannot attend a “first job” time then we will provide a 4-hour time window prior to the day and, on the day, we will call you on our way to the property.
I cannot find my property corners where are they? The true property corners are typically iron rebars that are oftentimes a few inches below the surface of the ground. There will be wire flags or stakes that witness the approximate location of the corners. There should be a grass plug where the true corner was dug up. If you pull the grass plug up and probe around you should find the corner. If you want the property corners left uncovered or flagged differently please let us know when you order the survey. You would be responsible to cover the corner back up if that is the case.
I cannot find one or all the flags on my property. There are several reasons why this may occur. Neighbors could have pulled up the flags. Lawn crews might pull them up or mow over the flags destroying them. The flags may be in the neighbor’s property on either side or behind the subject property. Neighborhood children may pull up the flags to play with them. We can not guarantee what happens to the flags once we leave the site. It is our policy to take pictures of all flags before we leave the site. If we cannot prove the flags existed when we left the site we will replace them at no cost. If we can prove the flags existed a minimal trip cost may be charged depending on circumstances.
There is a tree on my property line I want cut down. Is it mine or my neighbors? What rights do I have to cut it? We cannot answer this question. We can tell you where the property line is going and if the tree is completely on one person’s property or the other’s. We recommend you contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier to clarify what you can or cannot do in this instance.
The fence on one side of my property is ugly and falling down. I want to replace it. Do you know who owns it? We do not determine the ownership of fences. We can only determine if the fence is on the property line or on one person’s property or another. We recommend you contact a fence company regarding this matter as they have most certainly run into this issue before.
What type of survey do I need? In the "services" section please click on the links of each survey for a brief description of what they entail. If you are designing or building something on the property it is best to check with your contractor or the local governing body that has jurisdiction in the matter. They should know what is needed and use the correct terminology to avoid any confusion.