Land Surveyors and Building Surveyors – What Do They Do?

Land-Surveyors

Land Surveyors and Building Surveyors – What Do They Do?

Whether you are planning major renovation works, a new build or considering house and land packages, Canberra is a booming city in which knock-down re-builds and home upgrades are a wise investment. However, no matter what type of building works you are planning, governing bodies across the country require an abundance of professionally prepared paperwork before permission to start construction will be granted. While it may seem overwhelming, the reason is to ensure that your building works are completed to the necessary Australian building codes.

At Ellliott Hardie, we are the home builders Canberra, ACT and NSW residents trust for innovative, sustainable, contemporary custom homes finished to the highest possible standard. We understand that building a new home can be a complex process, so we do our best to offer expert guidance that make it as seamless and stress-free as possible! We are often asked about land and building surveyors, so here we will look at what they do and why they are an essential part of the building process.

Land Surveyors

Engaging a registered land surveyor is a vital step at the start of the construction process. They measure the site features, levels and boundaries and provide a report that allows architects and builders to come up with a design that works with site and any existing structures. They will also search the Land & Property information title and plan records to determine if the site is affected by easements or other restrictions that may affect construction. Later in the process, a land surveyor will be consulted when setting out the boundaries and new building works.

In most Australian states and territories, the law states that property boundary surveys must be conducted by a practising licensed surveyor. They will provide a survey certificate that shows the:

  • boundaries of the land being developed
  • location of each building or structure on the land
  • existing contours of the land

What Can Go Wrong Without a Land Surveyor?

Without proper land surveying, the architect and builder will not have accurate site information on which to base the building works. This can lead to costly extras and variations in the construction works. If the designer or builder guesses where the boundaries are, the new works may be over the boundaries, or built too close to the boundary to achieve compliance. Expensive rectification works may be required to obtain building certification.

Building Surveyors

While a land surveyor take care of assessing the spatial layout of the site, a building surveyor deals with legal issues and permits regarding planning and construction. They provide independent oversight of buildings and building work throughout the construction process and upon completion to ensure that buildings are safe for use, accessible and energy efficient. They do this by issuing permits, undertaking inspections of buildings & building work, issuing certificates of final inspection and occupancy permits and enforcing safety and building standards.

When building a new home, there are many steps involved and procedures that must occur before, during and after construction. It’s important to keep in mind that this is all designed to ensure your new home is built properly and that it is safe for you to occupy. From architects and draftsmen to land surveyors, building surveyors, tradespeople and more – there is a big team required every step of the way to bring high-quality home to life.

Want to Build a New Home? Not Sure Where to Start?

One of the best things to do is find yourself an experienced builder that you feel comfortable with and that has a reputation for producing high quality results. A good builder will be supported by a great team of professionals that will work together to ensure a smooth process from start to finish.

Ellliott Hardie is an award-winning home builder with a modern, collaborative approach to building – passionate about creating bespoke homes for contemporary family living, we work with each client to design and build a show-stopping home tailored to their specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. We service customers in the ACT and surrounding NSW locations. To find out more or to get the process started, stop searching ‘build new house Canberra’ and get in touch with our friendly team today. Call us on (02) 6170 2438 or enquire online now.