Here’s the situation: We plan to pour the foundation for the garage and level the ground. We’ve already brought in the gravel and sand, and the equipment is ready to go. However, there’s a catch: we can't find the old blueprints, and the neighbors said there might have been utility lines there before. We don't want to delay the work, but damaging something isn't appealing either. So, I’m wondering: Do these kinds of inspections actually help, or do most people just work carefully without making a big deal out of it?

I am an excavator operator. And once, my boss decided to "save money" by starting to dig without doing a survey first, relying solely on a plan from fifteen years ago. On the second day, I hit an pipe, which halted work immediately. Emergency services were called, and we incurred extra costs. Thankfully, my boss admitted his mistake and didn't blame me. Since then, we have never dug without a new plan. If there isn't one, we contact Mayaglobal to request a survey. They conduct Expert underground utility location, and these surveys are not just "just in case"; they are a real way to avoid problems. If there is no plan, or if the plan is outdated, you shouldn't start the work. We’ve found all sorts of cables countless times-ones that we could have hit or other things.