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What Hucks & Associates PC Does for Land Surveying in South Carolina

By Constance Obi · Culture & Recreation Writer

Hucks & Associates PC is a surveying firm serving South Carolina property owners and developers

Hucks & Associates PC is a land surveying company based in South Carolina that handles boundary surveys, construction staking, and property documentation for residential and commercial clients. The firm works with property owners who need to establish lot lines, developers planning new projects, and real estate transactions that require survey work before closing.

The company operates as a professional corporation, meaning the surveyors hold licenses from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Licensed surveyors in South Carolina must pass the Fundamentals of Surveying exam, the Professional Surveying exam, and complete required hours of supervised experience before they can legally perform survey work and sign official documents.

Key Takeaways

  • Hucks & Associates PC performs boundary surveys, construction staking, and property documentation for residential and commercial projects across South Carolina.
  • The firm's surveyors hold state licenses from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, which is required to sign official survey documents.
  • Property owners typically need a survey before selling, building, or resolving boundary disputes with neighbors.
  • Survey costs and timelines vary depending on property size, terrain, and how much existing documentation is available.

When you need a survey from a professional firm

A property survey becomes necessary at several points in property ownership. Before you sell, a lender or buyer often requires a current survey to confirm the property boundaries and identify any encroachments—like a neighbor's fence or structure crossing the line. Before you build, a survey stakes out where your structure will sit and confirms you are not violating setback requirements (the distance your building must stay from the property line).

If you are in a boundary dispute with a neighbor, a professional survey creates a legal record of where the line actually sits based on the original deed, previous surveys, and physical evidence on the ground. The surveyor's signed document carries weight in court and with title companies. You may also need a survey if you are subdividing land, applying for a permit, or refinancing your mortgage.

What a surveying firm does during the process

A surveyor begins by researching the property's history—pulling the deed, previous surveys, and plat maps from the county records office. They then visit the site to locate existing monuments (metal stakes or markers set by previous surveyors) and take measurements using modern equipment like GPS and laser theodolites. This fieldwork establishes where the corners of your property actually sit.

Once the surveyor has gathered measurements and research, they create a plat—a scaled drawing showing the property boundaries, dimensions, and any structures, easements, or encroachments. The surveyor then signs and seals the document, which makes it a legal record that title companies, lenders, and courts will recognize. The entire process typically takes one to three weeks, depending on how busy the firm is and how complex your property is.

How to contact Hucks & Associates PC

To reach Hucks & Associates PC, you can search for the firm's contact information through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation's online directory of licensed surveyors, or through local business listings. When you call, be ready to describe your property—its location, size, and what you need the survey for—so the firm can give you a rough estimate of cost and timeline.

Before you contact any surveying firm, gather your deed and any existing survey documents you have. This information helps the surveyor understand what work has already been done and what questions still need answering. Having these documents ready also speeds up the initial conversation.

What affects the cost and timeline of a survey

Survey costs depend on several factors: the size of the property, how difficult the terrain is to access, whether previous surveys or monuments exist on the site, and how much research the surveyor has to do in county records. A small residential lot in an established neighborhood with clear monuments may cost less and take less time than a large rural property with unclear boundaries or missing markers.

The firm's current workload also affects how quickly they can schedule you. During busy seasons—spring and summer, when most construction and real estate transactions happen—surveying firms may have a longer wait. If your timeline is tight, mention that when you first contact the firm so they can tell you whether they can meet your deadline.

Understanding the difference between surveys and other property documents

A survey is not the same as a property appraisal, a title search, or a property tax record. An appraisal estimates what a property is worth. A title search confirms who owns the property and whether there are liens or claims against it. A tax record shows what the county assessor believes the property is worth for tax purposes. A survey, by contrast, shows exactly where the property boundaries are and what sits on the land.

You may need more than one of these documents for a real estate transaction or construction project. Your lender might require both a title search and a survey. Your local building department might require a survey before issuing a permit. Understanding what each document does helps you know which ones you actually need and prevents you from paying for work you do not have to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a survey take?

Most surveys take one to three weeks from the time you contact the firm to when you receive the final plat. The fieldwork itself—the surveyor visiting your property—usually takes a few hours to a full day depending on property size and complexity. The rest of the time goes to research, calculations, and creating the final document.

What if I cannot find my property deed?

The surveyor can research your deed at the county Register of Deeds office, though this adds time and sometimes cost to the project. Bring whatever property documents you do have—a mortgage statement, tax bill, or old survey—and the surveyor can use those to locate your official deed in the county records.

Do I need a survey if I am just selling my house?

That depends on your buyer and their lender. Some buyers and lenders require a current survey; others accept an older one if it is recent enough. Ask your real estate agent or the buyer's lender what they need before you pay for a new survey. In some cases, an older survey on file at the county may be sufficient.

What is a monument, and why do surveyors look for them?

A monument is a physical marker—usually a metal stake, pipe, or stone—set at a property corner by a previous surveyor. Surveyors look for monuments because they are the legal evidence of where a boundary sits. If a monument exists and is in good condition, the surveyor uses it. If it is missing or damaged, the surveyor has to reconstruct the boundary using the deed and other evidence.

Can a survey settle a boundary dispute with my neighbor?

A professional survey creates a legal record of where the boundary actually sits based on the deed and physical evidence. If your neighbor disagrees, they can hire their own surveyor, but most disputes are resolved when both parties see the same professional survey. If the dispute goes to court, the judge will consider the surveyor's findings as evidence.