Don’t want to make costly mistakes on your next home renovation?
The average American spent an estimated $603 billion in 2024 to remodel their house. With so much money being spent on home improvement projects, it’s no wonder that people get creative.
Planning a renovation is one thing; executing it without a hitch is another. There are many ways you could mess up your home project. That’s why there are pros.
There’s one professional you should involve before any major home improvements: a land surveyor.
Homeowners need to plan carefully when it comes to home renovation, and land surveying can help.
How to Plan a Home Renovation Using Land Surveying
One key element is frequently overlooked during the process of planning a home renovation. And that is the use of Land Surveying and Mapping.
Most people think that all they need to do is get a few quotes from contractors and then start tearing down walls. But there’s one important step that comes before any demolition work: measuring your property lines with a professional land surveyor.
Planning your home renovation project can be stressful and time-consuming. But with proper preparation, you can save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
Topics we’ll discuss
- Understanding Property Boundaries For Renovations
- Why Land Surveys Save You Money
- The Best Time To Order Your Survey
- Outdoor Living Space Planning Done Right
- Avoiding Easement Issues
- Foundation & Structural Planning Benefits
Understanding Property Boundaries For Renovations
Planning a home renovation requires an understanding of where your property begins and ends. A land surveyor can help you figure this out so you know exactly where to build additions, decks, and other structures.
Before you start any major home improvement project, you need to know where your property lines are. This is especially important when planning additions, decks, and other structures.
Think about it this way…if you are going to be doing exterior renovations, such as a pool installation, deck building, or septic system design in Florida, then you need an accurate land survey and mapping to ensure everything is going in the right spot on your land parcel.
Building over your property line can result in expensive legal disputes with neighbors, even force you to tear down structures you just spent thousands building.
Land surveys give you all the exact measurements you need to plan your renovation with confidence.
Why Land Surveys Save You Money
Here’s a little secret that most people don’t know about home renovations…
Getting a professional survey before starting work can save you a ton of money in the long run. 63% of homeowners would prefer to remodel their home rather than move to one that’s already been renovated according to this research.
With so much money being invested in home improvement, there’s no reason for surprises during construction.
A proper land survey can reveal:
- Exact property boundaries and setback requirements
- Easements that might limit where you can build
- Topography that affects drainage and foundation work
- Existing structures and their precise locations
Planning home renovations without this information is just a recipe for disaster.
Many renovation mistakes occur because people skip this important step. They assume they know where their property lines are. Big mistake.
Professional land surveying eliminates guesswork and prevents expensive corrections later.
Zoning Requirements & Building Permits
Planning any home renovation requires navigating a complex permitting process with local zoning authorities.
You have to get approval from your municipality to make sure what you’re doing complies with their building codes. These cover rules like:
- Minimum distances from property lines (setbacks)
- Maximum building heights
- Lot coverage percentages
- Drainage requirements
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
If you don’t have accurate surveying data, you’re just guessing whether your plans will comply or not.
And what happens if you guess wrong? Your permit application gets denied. Your contractor sits idle, watching the clock tick by. Your timeline explodes. All because you didn’t get proper land surveying and mapping done up front.
Smart homeowners order their surveys first, then use those data to draw renovation plans that are certain to comply with local regulations from day one.
The Best Time To Order Your Survey
Timing is everything when it comes to land surveys and home renovation planning. You should order your survey during the planning phase before finalizing designs and applying for permits.
This gives you time to adjust if the survey uncovers issues with your proposed plans.
Here’s the ideal timeline for a smooth planning process:
- Decide renovation goals (patio, pool, addition, etc.)
- Order land survey
- Review survey results with designer/contractor
- Finalize renovation plans based on survey data
- Apply for necessary permits
Starting with a survey will save time in the long run. On average, homeowners spend twice as much time on the planning phase of renovation compared to the construction phase.
Use that planning time wisely by getting accurate land information first.
Outdoor Living Space Planning Done Right
Outdoor renovations are more popular than ever right now.
Decks, patios, outdoor kitchens, and pool areas require careful planning with accurate land surveying.
Land surveying can help you make the most of your outdoor living spaces by revealing:
- Grade changes that impact deck placement
- Drainage patterns affecting patio locations
- Underground utilities to avoid
- Trees/vegetation that might need removal
Plus there’s this…
Many homeowners discover their yard is smaller than they thought when they get an accurate survey. Others find an easement cutting right through their dream patio location.
Better to know these things up front than get blindsided by problems during construction.
Avoiding Easement Issues
Let me tell you about easements…
Easements are areas on your property where utility companies or neighbors have legal access rights.
Common easements include:
- Utility line access
- Shared driveways
- Drainage easements
- Access paths to neighbor properties
Building on an easement is a huge problem, even if it’s technically your land parcel. If you put a structure where it blocks easement access, you may be forced to remove that structure.
Professional land surveys identify all easements on your property so you can plan renovations that work around these restrictions instead of violating them.
Foundation & Structural Planning Benefits
Thinking about a home addition?
Land surveying provides critical information for foundation planning. The survey reveals existing land grades, slopes, and soil conditions that impact how your addition should be built.
Foundation contractors can use survey data to:
- Determine proper foundation depth
- Plan drainage solutions
- Calculate fill or excavation needs
- Identify potential structural issues
Guessing at this information on your own is risky when spending tens of thousands on a home addition.
Summary
Planning a home renovation is made easier and more accurate with land surveying and mapping. Professional surveys provide critical data that allow you to confidently design renovations within legal boundaries and your property limits.
By knowing exactly where your land parcel lines, easements, and structures are located before starting work, you’ll save yourself headaches and money by avoiding mistakes. Whether planning a simple deck or major addition, homeowners can benefit from the precision of land surveying services first.
And there you have it. A guide to planning your next home renovation with land surveying.
Using professional surveyors to gather accurate property data first can save time and money in the long run. Do the smart thing and start with a survey before you start drawing renovation plans.
Your future self will thank you with a stress-free project that stays on budget.
Also Read-Avoid Costly Surprises: Why a Home Inspection Is a Must Before Moving
