16 Parcels, 4 Dealership Sites, 1 Big Deal

Serra Automotive, Inc., a family-owned company that started off with a single dealership in 1973 and has grown into one of the top-ranked privately held retail automotive groups in the nation, was looking to expand its northern Michigan market again.

Serra wanted to acquire four additional Michigan auto dealerships, owned and operated by Bill Marsh Auto Group, in Gaylord, Kalkaska and Traverse City.

Before buying the properties, Joe Serra, the son of founder Albert M. Serra, needed a survey and validation of 16 different property parcels, some purchased by Marsh in the early 1980s. Serra hired Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V), its ‘Surveyor of Record’ for many other similar projects, to research and prepare four ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys at the various automobile dealerships. Serra also needed the surveys expedited within 45 days to complete the acquisition by late April or early May of 2024.

F&V needed its entire survey team, using staff from three of its Michigan offices, to expedite the research, preparation, and certification of the 16 different parcels. Due to the multiple parcels, the survey team had to work closely with the title company and registers of deeds to resolve the missing legals. Special efforts were made by field and office staff each week to meet the client’s closing deadline.

Several discrepancies were found/discovered while gathering the information on property boundaries, improvements, easements, encroachments, and other features. For example, there were areas occupied that were not called out at several parcels and another parcel had overlapping parcel lines.

F&V’s 45 days of surveying excellence resolved all the boundary issues and completed the project on time and on budget to enable Serra to acquire four new dealerships.

The Serra Automotive, Inc.’s expansion efforts today include 61 dealerships, 86 automotive franchises, and 27 brands in seven states and it employs more than 3,000 people.