KLS Top 10 FAQs

1. Can I get coordinates for my handheld GPS device to find/establish my corners?
Not to any usable accuracy. Coordinates in surveying are relative. Lat/Long information may be available for general location requirements (find your house), but for surveying accuracy, USGS or local municipal recorded control points must be utilized. More information regarding USGS control points can be found at the Wisconsin State Cartography website HERE.

2. Can I borrow your metal detector to look for my property pins?
No. Unless you're a registered land surveyor, you cannot legally determine whether a pin in the ground is a property corner, or not. Contact KLS to schedule a complementary onsite inspection for property corners in the Madison area.

3. My property has been surveyed, why would I need it surveyed again?
Can you see all your corners and determine where your lot lines are? See the KLS Survey Test to determine the legal integrity of your survey.

4. Are current surveys more accurate than surveys from years ago?
No. Modern equipment is more precise, but accuracy is a relative measure of correctness. What was correct years ago is still correct today. A surveyor who claims an error in surveys based on the fact that it is from a different period is making an excuse for their own inability to perpetuate property lines and interpret legal intent.

5. Will a land survey tell me what land I own?
No. A property survey will show you the land described in your deed. Chances are, you may have an encroachment or adverse possession claim for any occupation or improvements that do not match your deed lines.

6. I think my neighbor's fence is on my property, what should I do?
Get a survey. Show your neighbor the encroachment. Ask them to move the fence, or sell them the land their fence occupies. Small strips of land for lot line adjustments can most often be transferred via quit claim deeds.

7. I know how to read my deed and measure. Can't I save some money and set my property corners myself?
No. Unless you're a registered land surveyor, you cannot legally determine your property corners or lot line locations.

8. My neighbor hired a surveyor, and now claims that my landscaping is on his property, what should I do?
First, ask for a copy of the survey and use the KLS Survey Test. If your landscaping or improvement has been there a long time (20+ years) you may have an adverse possession claim. You can acknowledge that your landscaping may be on your neighbor's property, but also believe that you have rights to that land based on the laws of adverse possession. If the landscaping has been there a short time (less than 7 years) compare the cost of relocating your landscaping vs. buying the property from your neighbor. You may want to hire your own surveyor if the claim of your neighbor's surveyor is questionable.

9. Should I hire a surveyor based on price?
Yes, of course. Price, deliverable date, and quality of product delivered should all be considered. Be sure to compare apples to apples when shopping for a survey. Many surveyors provide maps disguised as legal surveys that do not meet state requirements. A survey is an investment in your property, and the value of your survey should be thought of as a factor of your return on investment (ROI).

10. How can different surveyors come up with different locations for my boundary?
The surveying industry in Wisconsin is self-regulated. There are no continued education requirements. More than 50% of surveyors do things "the way we've always done it" and are not aware of the current laws and codes that govern their work. A common corner cut is the duplication and adoption of information on record without proper field verification. This results in perpetuated errors that can go on for years. Ultimately, your surveyor should be very confident in representing the location of your property lines in court. If the mention of legally defending your survey in court causes apprehension or an uncertainty from your surveyor, run, run, run! If you hear things like "in my opinion" or "I'm pretty sure", question what part of law, administrative code, or technical methodology your property line location is based upon.