Home Surveyor

Most days mix field survey work, deed research, and report production — running total stations or GPS to locate boundaries, researching deeds and prior surveys at the recorder's office, processing data into CAD, producing stamped survey reports, and meeting with homeowners and title companies. You're often working at survey firms serving the residential market, with closing and improvement deadlines driving much of the schedule.

What tends to be harder than people expect is the legal weight and liability. Stamped surveys carry real consequence for property owners and lenders, and boundary disputes with neighbors can turn contentious. PLS licensure is required for stamped work, and insurance and liability matter at the firm level. Title insurance work has its own ALTA requirements.

People who tend to thrive here are methodical, comfortable in field and records research both, careful with legal documents, and patient with client emotions during boundary disputes. If you want pure office work, surveying lives in the field. If you like a profession with strong residential demand, clear licensure path, and the gravity of legally consequential measurements, the role offers durable demand and steady advancement to PLS and firm ownership.