The statutory warning matters
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4733-38 sets standards for mortgage location surveys and requires a statement that the product is not a boundary survey and should not be used to establish fence lines or other improvements. A lower price for that product is not a useful comparison when the owner needs a legal boundary retraced.
Boundary proposals carry a different scope
Chapter 4733-37 sets standards for boundary surveys, including research, field investigation, measurements, monumentation, and plats. Ask which boundary is being retraced, what evidence will be researched, which corners will be set, and what plat you receive.
Choose by purpose
| Purpose | Request |
|---|---|
| Lender's limited location question | The exact mortgage location survey requested by the lender. |
| Fence, addition, or dispute | Boundary retracement with relevant corners and line marking. |
| Design or drainage | Boundary basis plus topography, improvements, utilities, datum, and digital format. |
| Division | Boundary, new description or plat, county review, approvals, and recording. |
What changes an Ohio boundary estimate
Older descriptions, missing monuments, rural section evidence, alleys, road rights-of-way, dense improvements, woods, access, parcel count, staking intervals, filing, and deadline can all change the work. Put them in writing rather than asking for a price by ZIP code.
An Ohio comparison request
Purpose: [lender, fence, addition, dispute, design, division]
Product requested: [exact wording]
Records: [deed, plat, title, prior survey]
Needed: [corners, line stakes, plat, topo, description]
Deadline: [date]
Please state product limitations, monument work, filing, and exclusions.
Verify the professional
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4733 regulates professional surveyors. Confirm the responsible professional in eLicense Ohio.