What is one of the purposes of surveying property?

One of the primary purposes of surveying property is to identify and describe encroachments. A survey provides a detailed map of the property boundaries, which can reveal whether any part of a structure, such as a fence or a building, extends beyond those boundaries onto a neighbor's land. This information is crucial for property owners to understand their rights and to avoid potential legal disputes related to boundary lines.

While calculating property taxes and estimating market value are relevant to property assessments and valuations, these tasks typically rely on data gathered from surveys but are not the primary focus of a survey itself. Similarly, assessing neighborhood dynamics involves broader social and economic factors that a physical survey does not address. The specific task of identifying encroachments is central to a survey's purpose, highlighting the importance of understanding exact property lines for legal and ownership clarity.