How To Find Your Home On FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps

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What are FEMA flood maps?

FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) or just Flood Maps are provided after a flood risk assessment has been completed or updated for a community. This study is known as a Flood Insurance Study. The FIRM gives you the Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) and insurance risk zones in addition to floodplain boundaries. The FIRM may also show a delineation of the regulatory floodway.

Once the “flood hazard zone” (commonly referred to as the flood zone) is determined, actuarial rates, based on these risk zones, are then applied for newly constructed, substantially approved, and substantially damaged buildings. FEMA uses these rates to determine the insurance rate you will pay for flood insurance

FEMA’s Digital Flood Maps

FEMA discontinued the production and distribution of paper flood maps in 2009 as part of its Digital Vision Initiative. This affected all the Flood Maps, boundary information, and study reports. However, clients can still view the products for free through their website or buy them in digital format.

To view these flood maps online, go to FEMA’s Map Service Center and key in your address  to search for your home.  This will prompt you to then select the map that covers your area.  The Flood Maps are somewhat cumbersome to use online. It is best to go through the tutorial on the bottom right of the address search page for an easier and more effective use of the GIS map.

Call our land surveyors at (704) 285-1222 to discuss your the flood maps in your area or to have an elevation survey completed.

Why You SHOULD Have a Land Survey Completed Before Purchasing Land?

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Buying land, whether commercial or residential, is always an expensive endeavor, even if prices have eased somewhat lately. This is why finding a piece of land that you like and making an offer for it without conducting a land survey on the area is possibly the biggest mistake that you can make.

Here’s why it’s very important that you have land surveying done first:

Land surveyors can determine if you’re actually getting what you’re going to pay for. This means find out whether the sidewalks, trees, driveways and even the bird bath is part of the property you’re about to buy. Land surveying would also determine whether the neighbors are encroaching into the property, which would then mean you’re going to have problems in the future with your neighbors.

Land SurveyHiring a land surveyor doesn’t only mean they determine what you’re getting or not getting – land surveyors are the experts, and they can help with building regulations, wetland regulations, etc. Take note that these regulations can change anytime, but land surveyors should be updated on these regulations, or they will refer you to someone who is.

What if the current landowner (the one selling the land) can provide you with old land survey documents? You should still hire your own land surveyor to see if the boundary monuments are still in place. Also, land surveying done a few years back may not show recent changes to the land. If the existing survey is older than about ten years, you should get a whole new survey. Technology and surveying standards are both a lot better now and should provide you more confidence in the survey work.

Second, that survey was completed for that owner. He may have instructed the surveyor not to show certain things on the drawing. At least have a land surveyor go out and review the parcel with this survey in hand. We have seen numerous cases where a new land survey would save the buyer thousands so don’t become a victim.

I’ve heard a lot of people say hiring a land surveyor is nothing but unnecessary expense. I’ll tell you what’s unnecessary: the stress caused by paying thousands of dollars for something and ending up not getting what you were expecting. If you are smart, you’d hire a certified land surveyor before making any land purchases.

Call our land surveyors at (704) 285-1222 before you purchase land in order to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.

Things to Know When Building Your House

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Land Surveying in Building your house

It is a very good idea to build your home because you will be able to get exactly what you want instead of when you buy. Of course, you may need to add some things or you may not know what you are getting yourself into.

It is a huge decision choosing the right builder since it is one of the largest personal investments that you will make. Be sure to give an interview to all of the possible contractors and then pick the one that will help make your dream home come true. While you are talking to the possible contractors be sure you ask all of the pertinent questions that will help you choose the best; their how long they have been in the business, experience,  what are the kind of buildings that they have experience building and it would be great if you can see some of their work. It is also crucial to pick house plans which may lead to a good home now and in the future. This is something that your contractor should be able to help you with and they may call on the services of an architect.

Budget in building your house

Before to planning your house design consider these factors; your budget, the size of the home to be built, location of the home, wall finishes, design features that you would like, ceiling height, number of stories, fixture types, exterior finishings, also your time frame.

If you happen to be uncertain about any of these items, your contractor or architect should be able to guide you through this very important process. They will help you choose the details that are right for you down to the very smallest detail. They may refer you to other consultants for things like finishes, colors, and the like so be prepared to sit and discuss with them for a few hours to talk about all these choices that you may have.This is the reason that your choice of a builder is important.

If your builder isn’t able to advise you on home location they should refer you to a real estate agent. A real estate agent is familiar with important details like neighborhood home values, school districts, traffic issues, funding options, etc.

Land Surveying: avoids future problems

Another stop you should make is to see a land surveyor. Land surveyors are trained and experienced in identifying features of the land that might have an impact on your new home – called land surveying. Some of these features are flood zones, property line encroachments from neighbors, lot dimensions, and building setbacks. Land surveyors are measurement experts. And, since your home is your most valuable asset, land surveying should be one of your first steps in any new construction.

Avail Land Surveying service from your local surveyor: