LAND SURVEY SERVICES
Under the direct supervision of Gary Hahn, Kalamazoo County Surveyor, Wightman Ward, Inc. utilizes state of the art technology coupled with over 30 years of combined experience to fulfill our clients' wide range of survey needs. All field services are performed by NSPS (National Society of Professional Surveyors) Certified Survey Technicians.
- Boundary Surveys
- Land Division Surveys
- Legal Description Preparation
- Mortgagee's Inspections
- ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys
- National Flood Insurance Program Elevation Certificates
- Topographic Surveys
- Photogrammetric Control Surveys
- Ground Water Remediation Surveys
- Forensic Surveys
- Accident Surveys
Wightman Ward, Inc.'s Survey Department also provides Construction Layout Services, which are described on our Construction Services page as well as services relating to Plat and Site Condominium Design, which are described on our Land Development page.
Boundary Surveys and Michigan Public Act 132 Surveys
Boundary Surveys are usually conducted to establish or
reestablish parcel boundary lines for plat maps, real
estate titles, and other legal needs. Recordable boundary
surveys are performed in accordance with the predetermined
requirements of Act 132.
Land Division Surveys
Land Division Surveys are used by parcel owners to apply for Land Division Approval from local municipalities. These surveys depict a parcel which is intended to be divided or reconfigured and include a graphic representation of the divisions as well as new legal descriptions for all resulting parcels.Legal Description Preparation
Surveyors can provide written legal descriptions for various uses such as grading permits, easement creation, and deed preparation.Mortgagee's Inspections
Mortgagee's Inspections and their associated drawings are prepared in order to identify and verify structures and some site improvements on a parcel. These surveys are normally used by lending institutions to prepare mortgages. Mortgagee's Inspections carry a disclaimer stating that they are not boundary surveys.[Sample Mortgagee's Inspection]
ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys
ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys are primarily used by financial institutions and title insurance companies. They include a broad range of parcel features including the location of site improvements, surveyed boundary lines, and all recorded easements and encumbrances affecting the parcel. These complex surveys must meet strict standards developed by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). These standards also include a list of optional items such as ground contours and elevations (relief), subsurface utility information, zoning information and more.[2005 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys]
[Sample ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey]
Topographic Surveys
Topographic Surveys provide a range of details specific to a parcel of land including site improvements and ground contours and spot elevations (relief). These surveys may be used for land development (platting), subsurface utility design, site planning, and other architectural and engineering purposes.National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a Federal program which enables property owners in participating communities to purchase insurance protection against losses from flooding. To find out if your community participates in the Program, you can search online at The NFIP Community Status Book or contact a community official or insurance agent. You can learn more about the NFIP at The Federal Emergency Management Agency.In order to determine the proper insurance premium rate for new buildings or substantial improvements to existing buildings, or to request a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR-F), the property owner must submit an Elevation Certificate, which Wightman ward, Inc. can prepare and certify.
[Elevation Certificate and Instructions]