The Trusted Name in Land Surveying Since 1900
Crabbs’ Surveying Service has been marking property lines, construction sites, and helping landowners know exactly what they own since 1900. Thats over 4 generations of ownership.
Licensed. Local. Since 1900.
Two Generations of Military Service, one proud business
We service residential, commercial, title, and legal clients across Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania. Whether you are buying a home, closing on commercial property, staking out a project, or settling a boundary question that has been sitting for 40 years, we get the answer, get you the documentation, and make sure you understand what it all means.
Why Crabbs’ Surveying?
Licensed Professional Land Surveyors in Ohio and Pennsylvania
Member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)
Member of the Ohio Society of Professional Surveyors (OSPS)
Surveying Services in
NE Ohio & NW Pennsylvania
We handle a wide range of professional land surveying work for homeowners, businesses, banks, title companies, attorneys, engineers, and municipalities. Every survey is stamped by a licensed professional surveyor and delivered to get you prepared for your next project.
Boundary Surveys — Residential and Commercial
ALTA / NSPS Land Title Surveys
Mortgage Location Surveys
Boundary Surveys for Bank-Owned Properties
Construction Staking, Management, and As-Built Surveys
Easements, Rights of Way, Servitudes, and Route Surveys
Communications Tower Surveys
Flood Elevation Certificates and Hydrologic Surveys
Environmental Mapping
Erosion Control
What our clients say about us!
Excellent
4.8
What to expect - How it works
We keep things simple, and our process is straightforward. Our clients are surprised by how quickly we can get them a quote, and how much we explain along the way.
Contact Us!
Call or email us with the property address you want surveyed and a quick description of what you need. If you are not sure exactly what type of survey you need, that is ok! We’ll help you figure it out.
Get Your Free Quote
Once we receive the additional information needed, we can begin preparing your quote. Each project is unique, and some properties require additional research to accurately determine the scope of work and associated costs.
We Come Out - For Fieldwork and Research
Once you approve the quote, we schedule the fieldwork. Depending on the type of survey, this may include site measurements, deed research at the county courthouse, review of previous surveys, and locating property corners.
You’re Done! - Paperwork and Walkthrough
You receive a stamped survey with all required documentation. We guide you through what the survey shows, what it means for your property, and answer any questions before we call the job complete. This last step is one of the most important parts of what we do; a survey is not much good if you do not understand it.
Who we work with
Trusted by Homeowners, Builders, Attorneys, and Institutions
Our client base has grown organically over 125 years, and most of the work comes from returning clients and word-of-mouth referrals. In any given month, we might be surveying a new homeowner’s back fence line in the morning and preparing an ALTA survey for a commercial closing in the afternoon. We care about our clients and work
to build real relationships with
each of them.
- Homeowners - boundary questions, fence lines, additions, sales, and pre-purchase surveys
- Commercial property owners - boundary questions, lot splits, lot line adjustments, fence lines, additions, sales, and pre-purchase surveys.
- Title companies and real estate attorneys - many of whom have worked with us for decades.
- Banks and lenders - mortgage location surveys and REO property work.
- Builders, contractors, and engineers - construction staking, as-builts, and site management.
- Municipalities - right-of-way work, easements, and public projects.
- Regional conservation organizations and cultural institutions - environmental mapping and land documentation.
Our Story
Trusted by Homeowners, Builders, Attorneys, and Institutions
Crabbs’ Surveying Service was founded in 1900 by J.M. Crabbs, a German immigrant who came to Ohio and started his career surveying in the coal mines around Steubenville. He worked his way north to Lake County to help lay out the railroads that were reshaping Northeast Ohio at the turn of the century, then earned his Civil Engineering degree from Ohio State University.
J.M. was one of the earliest licensed surveyors in the state. His Ohio Professional Surveyor license number was 387! That number says something about how few surveyors were doing this work in Ohio when he started (for reference, in 2026 we are currently in the 8,000’s!). He spent his later career surveying residential boundaries across Northeast Ohio and trained many of the surveyors who would go on to work throughout the region.
In the 125 years since, the business has been passed through multiple generations of ownership, each committed to the same principles: careful work, straight answers, and a phone that gets answered.
We are one of the few local surveying firms with a track record that spans four ownership generations and thirteen decades of the same work in the same region. That history is not meaningless, it is how we know the ground, the courthouse records, and the neighbors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Land Surveying
Cost depends on the size and shape of the property, the type of survey needed, the availability of prior records, and site conditions. Most residential boundary surveys fall into a predictable range, while commercial ALTA surveys are quoted based on the property specifics. We give free written quotes with no obligation, usually the same or next business day.
From the day you approve the quote, a straightforward residential boundary survey typically takes one to three weeks depending on weather, courthouse research, and current workload. Larger commercial surveys and ALTA surveys take longer because of the additional field time and documentation required. We give you a realistic timeline before starting.
Not always, but often. Some lenders and title companies require a mortgage location survey at closing. If you are buying a rural property, land, or a property where the boundaries are unclear, a full boundary survey is smart insurance. We can help you figure out what your situation actually needs; sometimes the answer is “less than you thought.”
A boundary survey identifies your property lines and corners and documents any possible improvements. An ALTA survey (also called an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey) is a much more comprehensive survey that meets strict national standards used for commercial real estate transactions. ALTA surveys include boundary work plus improvements, easements, zoning, and many other elements required by lenders and title insurers.
A survey is valid as long as the property has not physically changed and no new improvements have appeared. That said, many title companies and lenders will require an updated survey (often within 6 to 12 months of a transaction) even if an older one exists. Physical monuments (survey pins) can also be disturbed or destroyed over time.
No. We do not need the client to be present for the fieldwork. Once you approve the quote and we have property access, we handle everything and deliver the finished survey to you. We will make availability to meet with any client on the site as requested.
This is a common reason people call us. A boundary survey by a licensed surveyor establishes the legal property line based on deeds, courthouse records, and physical evidence on the ground. The survey does not “declare a winner” — it documents what the records and evidence show. In most cases, this is enough to resolve the disagreement. In some cases, further legal action may be needed.
Yes. Our surveying staff are licensed Professional Surveyors in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. We regularly handle projects in Northwest PA that would otherwise require hiring a separate firm.
We strive to be available to all clients at most hours of the week. Most inquiries are returned the next business day. We understand that Real estate closings, construction schedules, and property disputes do not always cooperate with a Monday-through-Friday calendar, and neither do we.
It’s recommended. Fences built without a survey are one of the most common sources of boundary disputes, often years after the fence was built. A short boundary survey before the fence goes up costs a fraction of what it costs to move a fence later.