Real Estate

Our professionals provide acquisition, residential and business relocation services as required by the U.S. Uniform Act of 1970 and the Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987. We obtain Rights of Entry for reasonable access to property for the purposes of accessing, testing and surveying, on, across, under and through areas of proposed right of way.

Our independent, impartial appraisals include a written statement of opinion that defines the described property’s value as of a specific date. Our relevant market data supports the value in accordance with the Uniform Act of 1970 and the Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987 (URA). Our appraisal review ensures adequate documentation and recommends valid compensation. 

We plan and manage services for various aspects of a project to achieve successful project delivery. These services streamline program delivery from start to finish, verifying that the project complies with state and federal laws and regulations.

We manage real property prior to and during construction by providing maintenance, protection, and the clearance and disposal of improvements until final project acceptance. Property management records include inventories of real property considered excessive to project needs, leases or agreements, and uses of airspace.

We inspect parcels from the existing right of way and prepare preliminary cost estimates for comparing multiple corridor alignments and site alternatives. We use county GIS maps and Google Earth to identify additional improvements and/or impacts within the proposed right of way. We identify potential encroachment conflicts from aerial maps, confirm them through field observation and photographs, and catalog the information for clients.

We review title reports to determine current ownerships and encumbrances, and to aid in the preparation of legal descriptions, parcel sketches and ROW maps. Our title experts identify existing conditions relevant to property acquisition that may impact cost, schedule, acquisition, and relocation logistics. These experts also work to resolve title issues and clear titles for closings.

We identify utilities that may conflict with construction of a project and develop a relocation plan. We consult various standards, including AREMA, to determine conflicts, and we review agreements to determine financial responsibility for relocating utilities.