McLeod Thomas Gordon Land Surveying: What They Do and When You Need Them
Who McLeod Thomas Gordon is and what services they offer
McLeod Thomas Gordon is a land surveying firm based in South Carolina that handles boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction staking, and related surveying work for property owners, developers, and contractors across the state. They work on residential, commercial, and industrial projects, and their surveyors are licensed professionals who establish and verify property lines, measure elevation changes, and mark locations for construction.
The firm operates as a full-service surveying company, meaning they handle the fieldwork—going to your property with equipment to measure and document it—and the office work of producing the official survey documents you need for real estate transactions, construction permits, or legal disputes. Their work becomes the official record of what exists on your land and where your property boundaries actually sit.
Key Takeaways
- McLeod Thomas Gordon performs boundary surveys to establish property lines, topographic surveys to map elevation and features, and construction staking to mark where buildings and utilities go.
- You typically need a survey before buying property, starting construction, resolving a boundary dispute, or obtaining permits from your city or county.
- Licensed surveyors in South Carolina must meet state education and experience requirements and pass the Professional Land Surveyor exam.
- Survey costs vary based on property size, complexity, and how much fieldwork is required, so getting a quote for your specific project is necessary.
- The survey process usually takes one to three weeks from the time you contact the firm until you receive the final documents.
Types of surveys McLeod Thomas Gordon performs
A boundary survey is the most common type. The surveyor locates your property lines by researching the original deed, finding existing survey markers or monuments, measuring from those points, and comparing what they find to what your deed says. This is what you need before buying a house, selling land, building a fence, or settling a dispute with a neighbor about where the line actually is.
A topographic survey maps the shape and features of your land—hills, valleys, trees, buildings, utilities, water features, and anything else on the surface. Developers and contractors use these to plan construction, understand drainage, and design site layouts. Engineers need topographic data to calculate grading and drainage work.
Construction staking takes the architect's or engineer's plans and marks the actual ground where the building, driveway, utilities, or other structures will go. The surveyor sets stakes and marks that the construction crew follows to build in the right location and at the right elevation.
When you need to hire a surveyor
Before you buy a house or land, a survey tells you exactly what you are purchasing and whether the seller's description matches reality. Lenders often require a survey before they will finance the purchase. If the property has been divided, combined, or has unclear boundaries, a survey is essential.
Before you build, your city or county may require a survey as part of the permit process. Even if it is not required, a survey protects you by confirming that your building will sit on your own land and not encroach on a neighbor's property. If you are installing a fence, pool, or addition, a survey prevents costly mistakes.
If you and a neighbor disagree about where the property line is, a professional survey provides the legal evidence needed to resolve the dispute. If a neighbor's structure appears to cross onto your land, a survey documents that fact. In legal proceedings, a licensed surveyor's work carries weight in court.
How to contact McLeod Thomas Gordon
To request a survey, contact the firm directly by phone or through their office. Be ready to describe your property, explain what you need the survey for, and provide the property address or legal description if you have it. They will ask questions about the size of the property, whether it is residential or commercial, and what specific work you need done.
The firm will provide a quote based on the scope of work. Survey costs depend on property size, how accessible the land is, whether existing survey markers are easy to find, and how detailed the final documents need to be. Smaller residential lots typically cost less than large commercial parcels or properties with complex boundaries.
What to expect during the survey process
Once you hire McLeod Thomas Gordon, the surveyor will schedule a time to visit your property. They will walk the land, take measurements, look for existing survey monuments or markers, and photograph key features. This fieldwork can take a few hours to a full day depending on the property size and complexity.
Back at the office, the surveyor processes the measurements, researches the deed and previous surveys, and creates the official survey document. This is a detailed map showing your property lines, dimensions, any structures or easements, and the surveyor's seal and signature. The entire process from your initial contact to receiving the final survey typically takes one to three weeks.
You will receive the survey in paper form and often digitally as well. Keep multiple copies—you will need them for the real estate transaction, the construction project, the permit application, or your records. Some lenders and title companies have specific requirements about how many copies they need or what format they want.
Understanding South Carolina surveying standards
All surveyors working in South Carolina must be licensed by the state. This means they have completed education requirements, passed the Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam, and meet continuing education standards. A licensed surveyor's seal on a survey document means the work meets state standards and is legally recognized.
South Carolina law defines what a survey must include, how it must be documented, and what makes it official. When you hire a firm like McLeod Thomas Gordon, you are paying for expertise in those standards and for the legal authority their license carries. If a survey is done incorrectly or incompletely, it can cause problems later—a licensed firm protects you by doing the work right.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a survey cost?
Costs vary widely based on property size, location, complexity, and what type of survey you need. A simple residential boundary survey on a small lot costs less than a topographic survey of a large commercial property or a survey with difficult terrain. Contact McLeod Thomas Gordon with details about your property to receive a specific quote.
Do I need a survey if I am just building a small addition?
Your city or county may require one as part of the building permit process. Even if it is not required, a survey protects you by confirming your addition will not cross onto a neighbor's property. Check with your local building department first, then decide whether the protection is worth the cost.
What if I cannot find the property corners?
The surveyor's job includes finding or re-establishing property corners. They research the original deed and survey records, look for existing monuments or markers, and use measurements to locate where the corners should be. If original markers are missing, they can set new ones based on the legal description.
How long does a survey take?
The fieldwork—the surveyor visiting your property—usually takes a few hours to a full day. The entire process from your initial contact to receiving the final documents typically takes one to three weeks, depending on how busy the firm is and how complex your property is.
Can I use an old survey instead of getting a new one?
An old survey may be useful for reference, but lenders, title companies, and permit offices often require a current survey. Property lines do not change, but survey standards do, and a new survey confirms that the current surveyor has verified the information. Ask the entity requiring the survey whether an older one is acceptable.