The “ALTA Survey,” more properly referred to as an “ALTA/ACSM Land Title Survey,” is a survey that is prepared in conformance with standards jointly prepared by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping. These standards were developed by the representative organizations of the Title Insurance industry and the Land Surveying industry in order to assure consistency of survey products throughout the United States. Typically, ALTA Surveys are performed for transactions involving large or particularly valuable commercial properties or multi-unit residential properties such as apartment complexes.

As a part of an ALTA Survey, the Surveyor will be furnished copies of all legal research provided by an attorney or title examiner and will be asked to locate on the site any exceptions to title insurance coverage. These may include easements and rights-of-way that may or may not actually affect the subject property. For example, the surveyor may be required to determine if an easement granted in 1925 by a previous Owner to the “The Telephone and Telegraph” cooperative is a good example of the arcane obscure type of information we are asked to verify actually crosses the property to be surveyed and if so where.

The ALTA Standards include specific criteria for accuracy, error of closure and positional tolerance. The Surveyor performing the work must certify on the face of the plat that these requirements have been met. The standards also include a separate list of optional items the Client may request be shown on the plat. This list, known as “Table A” may include such things as topography (contours), building heights, parking, zoning information, evidence of any dumps or waste areas, recent grading, flood information, etc. Because of the stringent requirements for ALTA Surveys, they are considered by many to be the “highest form” of Boundary Surveys.

The Survey Staff at Gay and Neel, Inc. has extensive experience with ALTA Surveys. Real estate transactions can involve sellers, purchasers, lenders, and title insurers across the nation working together on a strict schedule. We understand the value of the ALTA Survey and the importance of providing our work in a timely manner. We have performed these surveys on industrial and manufacturing facilities, hotels, restaurants, apartment complexes, retail stores, shopping centers, mobile home communities, banks, recreational facilities, and more. We will be happy to talk with you about what is needed on your survey.

Our Surveying Department was proud to be honored with four 1st Place Awards at the Annual Plat Contest held at the 2003 Virginia Association of Surveyors Convention in January.