This morning I received the second quote and it was higher than the first! The earlier surveyor quoted a price of $3,000 for the boundary survey and he held the drawings from the survey in performed in 1999 for the same property. I realize that it would have to surveyed again but having that drawing with all of the benchmarks, locations of the pins, and other details would be of much aid the second time around (and presumably reduce the time and expense).
We found a smaller company close by that surveys and expected this to by less expensive but were given a quote of $4,000 for a boundary survey.
The property had most of the timber removed about eight years ago and adjoins a county (paved) road so it is very accessible. The land we want surveyed is currently a 40-acre tract and a six acre tract. A creek runs approximately in the middle of the 40 acres thus dividing that property in two halves. The current owner wants to keep one half (that section in landlocked) so we are looking at the other 20 acres and the adjoining six acres. We understand that surveying using a creek as a boundary is more time consuming - we just were not prepared to hear how expensive this would be.
Based on the cost that others here stated, it looks as if this is not out of line - I just (naively) was expecting something less. I certainly appreciate the information that you folks have provided. I better just pull up my big boy pants and my checkbook!
nota: as you are a retired surveyor, I would be very interested in you sharing any words of wisdom, points to avoid, and any other pertinent information regarding boundary surveys.