Land survey quotation an owner understands

What to put on a surveying quote

Use this land survey quotation to show a property owner what a boundary survey involves before the crew sets foot on site: records research, field time by the hour, corner pins counted one by one and a stamped plat at the end. The sample is a residential lot with four corners. Open it in the free quote maker and change the hours, pins and rates to match the parcel.

A surveying quote should identify the parcel, the type of survey, the research and field work behind the price, and the final deliverable. Owners often cannot tell a boundary survey from a topographic one, so naming the survey type and its purpose heads off most misunderstandings.

1. Parcel identificationStreet address, parcel or tax ID, and the deed or plat reference, so there is no doubt which land is being surveyed.
2. Survey type and purposeBoundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, construction staking or elevation certificate, and why the client needs it: a fence, a sale, a permit or a boundary dispute.
3. Records researchPulling deeds, recorded plats and adjoining descriptions before field work. On older parcels this can take longer than the field day.
4. Field crew timeCrew size and hours at a crew rate. Wooded or steep ground and missing monuments push the hours up.
5. MonumentsHow many corner pins or markers will be set, priced each, and whether monuments found in place are reused.
6. Drawing and sealThe plat or map, the surveyor’s signature and seal, the number of copies and the digital file formats supplied.
7. RecordingSay if you will record the plat with the county, and show the recording fee as a pass through cost.
8. Access and site conditionsGates, dogs, locked yards, heavy brush and neighbor access, all noted as assumptions.

Sample land survey quotation with example prices

Truebearing Surveys quotes Adam Hughes for a boundary survey of a residential lot. All four lines sit under one Survey group: records research as a set fee, six hours of field crew time, four corner pins priced each, and a stamped plat drawing. The total is $1,870 before tax, with half due on booking. There are no optional extras on this one. Prices are examples, not a fee schedule.

Edit the Truebearing Surveys quote

4 lines are filled in, from records research to stamped plat drawing. Put in your own land surveying rates, then download the PDF.

Open the land surveying sample

How surveyors price a job

Surveyors usually quote a fixed fee per survey built from estimated crew and office hours, an hourly crew rate for uncertain work, or a per lot or per acre rate for routine parcels in a known subdivision. The method matters less than showing the client what the fee covers.

1. Fixed fee per surveyEstimate research, field and drafting hours, add monuments and recording, and quote one figure. Suits standard residential lots with good records.
2. Crew rate by the hourField crew hours at a crew rate plus office time. Use it when records conflict, monuments are missing or the land is heavily wooded.
3. Per lot or per acreA rate for repeat work such as subdivision staking or large rural tracts, adjusted for terrain and cover.

Field hours swing with terrain, vegetation and the state of nearby monuments, so walk the site or check aerial imagery before you fix a price. The pricing guide covers adding overheads to crew rates.

Worked example: boundary and topographic survey on a wooded lot

A client buying a 1.2 acre wooded lot needs the boundary located and a topographic survey for a house design. The figures below are example rates.

1. Records researchDeed, plat and adjoiner research quoted at $250.
2. Field workA two person crew for eight hours at $165 an hour: 8 x 165 = $1,320. The trees block sight lines, so this runs longer than a cleared lot.
3. MonumentsSix corners to mark at $45 each: 6 x 45 = $270.
4. Office draftingFive hours of CAD work for the boundary and contours at $95: 5 x 95 = $475.
5. Surveyor reviewTwo hours of licensed surveyor review and sealing at $140: 2 x 140 = $280.
6. Total$250 + $1,320 + $270 + $475 + $280 = $2,595 before tax and any county recording fee.

If an adjoining deed overlaps or a monument has been disturbed, research and field time can double. Say the fee assumes the records agree and that resolving conflicts is billed at the crew rate.

What a boundary survey quote includes and excludes

Mistakes on land surveying quotes

• Not naming the survey type, so the client expects contours or building locations on a boundary survey.
• Quoting a fixed price before checking whether nearby monuments still exist.
• Treating records research as free, then spending half a day at the county office.
• Forgetting heavy brush or a locked yard that adds hours to the field day.
• Leaving recording fees off, so the client is surprised by a second charge.
• Promising a delivery date in peak season without checking the crew calendar.