Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of two conducting layered transition-metal ditellurides, $TaTe_2$ and $Ta_{0.5}$$V_{0.5}$$Te_2$, were examined and their surface and bulk structural features were compared. All the measured unit cell parameters from AFM image were consistent and in complete agreement with the results of the X-ray diffraction. The microscopic structures of corrugated surface tellurium sheets were strongly affected by the modification of metal double zig-zag chains underneath Te surface. Large difference in the height amplitudes of AFM images in $TaTe_2$ and $Ta_{0.5}$$V_{0.5}$$Te_2$ phases was observed and this reflects large difference in the surface electron densities of two phases. On surface, the shorter intralayer Te…Te contacts in $TaTe_2$ induce more electron transfer from Te p-block bands to Ta d-block bands, thus electron density on surface observed in $TaTe_2$ is much lower than that of $Ta_{0.5}$$V_{0.5}$$Te_2$. However, in bulk, interlayer Te…Te contacts in V substituted phase are shorter than those in $TaTe_2$ phase, thus tellurium-to-metal electron transfer occurs more easily in $Ta_{0.5}$$V_{0.5}$$Te_2$ phase.