Pin Finding

[John S. Rabi]

ric, you might be surprised but I have seen many properties where the stakes were moved and were not in the correct position. You also might be surprised of the fact that somebody did build on a wrong lot because of a pinfinder. (Just ask the owner of Century 21, he ended up buying the property for nearly twice the value just to avid a lawsuit!)
BTW, I have no "buddies" at IHS, I just said they are reputable.
AND BTW, I don't know how you got a survey map stamped by a LICENSED HAWAII SURVEYOR, since this guy is not licensed. But you know what?! It's your property, you do whatever you want to do. I never advocate unlicensed activities. I am just trying to help PW'ers to make the right choice.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,ARB,BFT,CM,CBR,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[ric]

Most folks should be able to read a TMK map, find their number, pull a tape from the next intersection, and find their property within +/- 5ft. If someone built on the wrong lot, then they apparently never visited the site with the seller, look at a map and compared TMK's, or even had a broker who could figure out WHERE the land was. I know where my land is, and I only needed someone to find the pins to get me down to the exact border. I could have measured it myself within a few feet. So there is more than 1 choice available, depends on what you're looking for.

[Nalu]

I'd have to say I'm in the same thoughts as John about new construction and using a surveyor. That said, I did use Evan on my already built houselot to put in some points on line to establish a fence boundary. The lot is 1600 feet deep, and I was incredibly impressed with his professionalism and knowledge. I had called around to a few surveyors, and one of them I spoke with highly recommended him, so i gave him a shot. I would use him again, and have no doubt he knows his stuff; he established that my pins, which were placed by a licensed surveyor, were off by 3 inches. Pretty accurate I'd say.. The main advantage with going with someone licensed is that if they error, they have insurance that backs up and remedies it, where as if you use someone unlicensed you're on your own.

[John S. Rabi]

Just ask Tony Vicar, he is a licensed GC, built a house based on the finding of a pinfinder, and ended up hiring guys with cranes to move his already built house because he built it in the setbacks!

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,ARB,BFT,CM,CBR,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[ric]

Ya, if your lot and design requires you to build right up to your setback. . .you better make sure it's accurate. Maybe in that case you need to spend the extra $$ for insurance (licensed surveyor). I'd still use a "pinfinder" again to save the $$. In my case, as in Nalu's, Evan found all the existing pins, marked the boundaries between the pins, and was very professional and did a great job. Just as it is important to protect your investment and be careful not to build in the wrong place, it is also important not to waste $$ when another option is adequate.