Certified Plot Plan in Boston

A certified plot plan is a stamped drawing created by a state registered land surveyor. It shows a piece of land to scale, including its boundary lines, square footage and any structures on the land. Structures may include houses, sheds, decks, pools, garages, driveways, parking spaces, fences and so on.  In Boston, a certified plot…

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Arlington Certified Plot Plan

We recently performed a certified plot plan in Arlington. Many Massachusetts cities and towns require certified plot plans, and for a variety of reasons. In this case, our client needed a building permit for a proposed addition. In Arlington, this requires a certified plot plan. But what is a certified plot plan? A certified plot…

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Need A Land Survey? Here’s What You Can Expect

If you’re a homeowner, you will likely need to have your property surveyed at least once in your lifetime. In Massachusetts, land surveys can be required for a variety of reasons. You might need a survey if you’re purchasing, selling or subdividing land, mortgaging property, building or adding onto a house, installing a septic system,…

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Salem Elevation Certificate

We recently performed a land survey in Salem, MA. This was for an Elevation Certificate in Salem for a waterfront property directly on the harbor. The homeowner had been told that he was in a flood zone. Unfortunately, he would have to purchase flood insurance as a result. Once we completed the property survey in…

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Elevation Survey in Shrewsbury, MA

We recently conducted a property survey in Shrewsbury, MA. This was an elevation survey for a homeowner who had been paying flood insurance for years. We performed the elevation survey and found that the home was not in a flood zone. The homeowner was understandably very happy. He can submit the elevation certificate to his…

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Elevation Certificate in Lowell Increases Home’s Salability

Home buyers consider many factors when looking at properties. These include location, size, curb appeal, school system, property taxes and more.  But what about flood insurance? We recently completed an elevation certificate in Lowell for homeowners who were unable to sell their home. The cost of flood insurance required for their property had turned away…

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What is a Special Flood Hazard Area?

A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is an area designated by FEMA on a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) map. This area has a 1-percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. SFHAs may also be referred to as the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain, base floodplain, or the 100-year floodplain. Properties located within an SFHA…

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Changing Your Property’s Flood Zone Designation

Are you paying for flood insurance because your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)? Are you concerned that this designation is incorrect?  If so, you can request a change to your flood zone designation with an elevation certificate. To do this, you need to submit an application for a formal determination of…

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Can’t Get Out of the Flood Zone? An Elevation Certificate Can Still Help

At Massachusetts Survey Consultants, we’ve been very busy with elevation certificate requests, from elevation certificates in Malden, Winthrop and Revere, and elevation certificates in Essex and Beverly, to elevation certificates in Quincy and Hull, and elevation certificates in Framingham, Lexington, Chelmsford and beyond.  With frequent updates to FEMA flood zone maps, elevation certificates are always…

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Land Surveyor in Newton, Massachusetts

The other day we performed a land survey in Newton, Massachusetts, for a new home construction. Land surveyors contribute many valuable services to the new home construction process. This includes boundary surveys, site design and layout, and construction staking. In essence, the land surveyor assists with quality control. Sometimes we will work with the builder…

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Demand for Massachusetts Elevation Certificates on the Rise

We have been very busy over the past year with requests for elevation certificates throughout Massachusetts. FEMA frequently updates their flood maps. Many properties are newly designated as flood hazards as a result.  Over a two-day period this past weekend, we completed a whopping 7 Massachusetts elevation certificates. That included 2 elevation certificates in Hull,…

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When Do You Need a Land Surveyor?

When do you need a land surveyor? There are a variety of reasons why you may need the services of a licensed Massachusetts land surveyor, including the following: Purchasing or selling land Subdividing land Purchasing Title Insurance Refinancing or obtaining a mortgage Building a house or adding a fence or other improvements that are located…

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What is a Land Surveyor?

A land surveyor is a licensed professional with unique qualifications and training to perform land surveys. Land surveys accurately determine the position of points and the distances and angles between them. As such, surveys can establish property boundaries for ownership or governmental purposes, or for land maps. An individual must pass a series of examinations…

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How Can a Land Surveyor Assist Me?

Professional land surveyors can help you in a variety of ways. If you have a conflict or are curious about the boundaries of your land, a surveyor can review your deed and other evidence in order to give you his professional opinion. He or she can also identify or set monuments at your property corners…

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Arlington Property Survey for Addition

We had our land surveyors in Arlington for a property survey the other day. This was for homeowners who were looking to build an addition on their existing house.  The survey ensured that the proposed addition met the setback requirements of the town before moving forward with construction. Every town has different setback requirements so…

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Middleton Property Survey

Recently we had our land surveyors in Middleton for a property survey and stake out.  The property owners were looking to install a fence on their property line. Though not required by all towns, it is always a good idea to first get a professional land survey prior to fence installation, particularly if you want…

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Blog Series: Elevation Certificates in Burlington, MA

If you’re looking for information about elevation certificates in Burlington, MA, the town website has a decent amount of information.  One of the most helpful resources is a Clickable Map of Burlington which allows you to click on any area within the town to see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for that area. …

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