“I saw on the Internet that a survey should cost $300”

The Internet is a valuable tool for consumers. One can find prices, reviews, recommendations, and other useful information for nearly any product or service on the market. Armed with this knowledge, a consumer can attempt to make an informed decision on the purchase of a product or service. Unfortunately, the information available online can often be misleading, especially for a professional service such as land surveying. If one Google searches “how much does a land survey cost,” this is the first result that pops up. “Nationally, the average cost to purchase a land survey is about $456 with a range between $367 and nearly $490. Again, these figures can vary greatly based on location and a myriad of other factors.” The catch is the second sentence: the cost of a survey does vary greatly based on location and a myriad of other factors. Of course, the piece of information that is most likely to stand out to a consumer is that the “national average” is around $400-500. If you scroll further down the search results, other websites provide similar information: “The range is $300 to $1,200 or more. The complexity of the survey will determine the exact cost.” (Again, the important information lies in that second sentence). If one searches “how much does a land survey cost in Connecticut” the first result claims the average cost to hire land surveyors in Connecticut is $786.

Websites such these paint an inaccurate picture of the cost of a land survey, and lead the customer to having unrealistic expectations when they call Godfrey-Hoffman Hodge or any other reputable surveying firm for a proposal. When websites claim that the average cost of a survey is $786, or that a typical price range is $400-500, some consumers may not stop to think about where these sites got these numbers, or more importantly what quality of survey work would carry this price tag. As covered in a previous article, the lowest price is not necessarily the best investment for a consumer who needs a land survey. Price is sometimes a priority, but it is also important for a customer to consider responsiveness, prompt service, proper licensing and proper insurance, and consistent communication, especially for a more complex project. Ultimately, a professional land surveying company is the best resource for this information. Consumers are free to shop around and consult several different sources, but only qualified professionals will be able to give them a realistic price proposal. Unlike what one might find online, a professional proposal is not simply an educated guess on what a job will cost. Professional land surveyors take into careful consideration the size of the job, time constraints, engineering needs, client need and other factors when putting together a proposal.