Commercial ALTA/NSPS Surveys
For commercial parcels, an ALTA/NSPS land title survey runs between $2000 and $8000. We measure the parcel using GNSS and a total station, tying the data directly to the state plane coordinate system. If original corner markers are missing, we set and stamp new ones, then flag them so they are clearly visible on site. The final price depends heavily on the complexity of the boundary lines and how many new corners we have to set.
FEMA Elevation Certificates
A FEMA elevation certificate costs between $350 and $750. Because this work focuses on specific elevation points rather than mapping an entire commercial boundary, it requires less time in the field and costs significantly less than a full land title survey.
Resolving Boundary Conflicts
Costs increase when we have to resolve gaps, overlaps, or conflicts in the deed calls. We use monument-recovery tools—specifically pin finders and metal detectors—to locate original corner markers. If the legal description conflicts with the physical boundaries or neighboring deeds, we compute the exact boundary to resolve the discrepancies. Searching for buried or destroyed markers adds labor time to the project.
Winter Fieldwork in Melrose
Melrose sits in the Northeast region in climate zone 5A, which means cool climates and cold winters. Searching for buried monuments or driving new stamped corners into frozen soil takes longer than it does in the summer. We factor these seasonal conditions into our project timelines and pricing when scheduling winter fieldwork.
A Look at the Work
Examples of the work involved, start to finish.
What to Expect
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Tell Us What You Need
A two-minute call is enough for us to understand the job and what it'll take.
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We Take a Look
We come out, look at the space, and confirm exactly what the job involves.
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Know the Price First
We put the work, the timeline, and the number on paper — take your time with it.
In practice, on a job like this:
- Recovering the original monuments — the iron pins, stones, or nails that mark the corners of record
- Measuring the parcel with GNSS and a total station, tied to the state plane coordinate system
What It Typically Costs
These are planning ranges. Nothing is final until it is in writing.
$500–$1500
$500–$1200
Questions Melrose Customers Ask
The cheapest type is typically a residential boundary survey on a platted lot, costing $500 to $1,200. However, costs depend on property size, terrain, and required details. More complex surveys, like those for acreage or commercial properties, are significantly more expensive.
A residential survey usually takes 1-2 weeks, depending on property complexity, access to records, and surveyor workload. Delays can occur if original markers are missing or if there are boundary disputes. Always confirm timelines with your surveyor upfront.
A land survey includes researching deeds and prior surveys, locating boundary markers, measuring the property, resolving boundary conflicts, and setting new markers if needed. It also identifies improvements, easements, and encroachments. The surveyor drafts a sealed plat or map detailing these findings.
Free property surveys are rare. Most require professional expertise and equipment, incurring costs. Some municipalities may offer basic records, but these are not substitutes for a legal survey. Always hire a licensed surveyor for accurate, legally binding results.
A boundary survey focuses on defining property lines and corners. Other types include ALTA/NSPS surveys for commercial properties, topographic surveys for elevation details, and construction staking for building projects. Each serves specific purposes and varies in complexity and cost.
If your survey has errors, contact the surveyor immediately to request corrections. Licensed surveyors are obligated to fix mistakes. If they refuse, escalate to their licensing board or seek legal advice. Always review the survey thoroughly before accepting it.
A Few More Questions
Yes. Where corners are missing we set stamped iron rods or caps carrying the surveyor's license number, and we flag them so you can find them. The markers are part of the record — moving or destroying them is both a practical problem and, in most states, against the law.
No. A phone's GPS is accurate to several feet at best and isn't tied to your deed or the corner monuments, so the lines those apps draw are approximate and carry no legal weight. Survey-grade GNSS fixes a point to the centimeter against a reference network — a different instrument for a different job.
The property address and, if you have them, a copy of your deed, any prior survey, and your title commitment. Access to walk the property helps, and if there's a specific reason for the survey — a fence, a sale, a building permit — telling us up front lets us scope it right the first time.
Price tracks the work, not the lot size alone. A clean platted lot with good corners is quick; a parcel with missing monuments, conflicting deeds, heavy tree cover, or a metes-and-bounds description takes far more research and field time. We quote after we see the deed and the record, so the number is real.
Usually yes, and often the permit requires it. Building to an assumed line is how encroachment problems start — a fence a foot over the line can cloud a future sale. A current boundary survey shows exactly where you can build and keeps the improvement on your own ground.
Where We Work
We work across Melrose, MA. Call (781) 590-6899 to confirm coverage for your address.
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How We Do Business
Updated October 2026