Land Surveyor Weblog, Knoxville TN

David Rosenberg has a series of charts illustrating the dire condition of the housing market.

Our economy is very sick, despite propagandist media predilections to the contrary. I fear for the future of my business, my son, and my country. I suppose I am violating some business rule about remaining positive. I just call it like I see it.

Via The Daily Caller

Imagine you come home from work one day to a notice on your front door that you have 45 days to demolish your house, or the city will do it for you. Oh, and you’re paying for it.

This is happening right now in Montgomery, Ala., and here is how it works: The city decides it doesn’t like your property for one reason or another, so it declares it a “public nuisance.” It mails you a notice that you have 45 days to demolish your property, at your expense, or the city will do it for you (and, of course, bill you).

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Keep in mind, so-called standards like “obsolescence” are so vague they can mean anything, so even a well-maintained home that government officials don’t like the look of can be fed to the bulldozers

Have you heard of the “Great Outdoors Initiative”? Chances are, you haven’t. But across the country, White House officials have been meeting quietly with environmental groups to map out government plans for acquiring untold millions of acres of both public and private land. It’s another stealthy power grab through executive order that promises to radically transform the American way of life. Via Human Events.

At real estate closings, it has become prevailing practice for sellers to sign, and buyers to accept a “Survey Affidavit Of No Change.” This practice may saddle both buyer and seller with more liability than they realize. The practice transfers liability from a professional surveyor to unqualified parties. Read this article for an in-depth look at how it works, and the problems signing such affidavits can present.

Please view the video and visit NewBusters for an article about the scant media coverage this has received, with links to relief organizations.

PLS has completed the final asbuilt survey for 1st Choice Auto in Solway. We also provided the original boundary and topographic survey for design, including resubdivision and road closure.

This saw blade is hanging where we began our survey of 120 acres at the Knox/Anderson County line. It is about 4 feet in diameter and depicts a bluegrass band. Cool, huh?

We recently completed this survey of a city lot in Knoxville. The decorative wrought iron fence in front was installed at a cost of $2,500. The previous owner guessed at the boundary. The fence on the left-hand side is five feet over. We came out when the neighbor informed the current owner of their belief that the fence was encroaching onto their property. An expensive error which could have been avoided.

We are currently surveying 120 acres for Dr. Joe Black (of Black and Benton Pediatricians). The property abuts the Knox/Anderson County line. Deeds are sketchy with vague descriptions perpetuated over decades. My preliminary approach is to use a geo-referenced USGS Quad sheet to develop coordinates to which I can navigate using hand-held GPS. That approach was moderately successful, yielding the property corners pictured below. It is a good start.

A judge is trying to force the property owner to remove this mural.