SURVEY AUTHORIZATION FORM
In connection with the purchase of your property, you must decide whether you need to order a location drawing or boundary survey for your property, or any at all. Your lender may or may not require it. Please check with your lender. Even if your lender doesn't require a survey, you may nevertheless want one. Read below to understand the types of surveys and whether you would like us to order any type of drawing/survey for you.
After reading the material below, please complete the form to the right and, if you decide to obtain a drawing or survey, we will engage a surveyor/engineer on your behalf. NOTE: Buyers are responsible for the cost of any survey ordered. Boundary surveys will require a non-refundable deposit with the balance due at closing. Location drawings must be ordered at least one week prior to closing. Want to ask us questions about the survey process? You may submit your questions by completing the form to the right, or simply call us at 410-531-0385 and ask to speak to someone about your survey questions. |
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BOUNDARY SURVEY VS. LOCATION DRAWING -- WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Location Drawings and Boundary Surveys are both commonly referred to as "surveys." Although both types of surveys are used to determine the location of property lines and improvements, the two surveys are very different when it comes to their accuracy and how they are used in real estate:
Location Drawing: A location drawing is quick and inexpensive. Most buyers obtain this is the type of survey. It generally locates the property lines and all improvements on the lot using only the legal description found in the deed to the property. A Location Survey is enough to satisfy the needs of the lender and title company; however, it does not establish the actual, true property lines or corners of the property, and it cannot be relied upon to accurately erect a fence or other structures on the property. The cost of a location drawing is approximately $200 for properties under one acre and can usually be performed within a few days to a week.
Boundary Survey: A boundary survey takes longer and is more expensive. Most buyers do not obtain a boundary survey because of the cost. Rather, they opt for the location drawing; however, as you'll read below, there may be a legitimate need for a boundary survey, even in a common residential purchase where it's not required by the lender or title company.
A boundary survey locates the actual, true property lines and corners or your property, as well as the location of any building setback lines or easements for utilities, driveways, sidewalks, etc.. The property corners are marked by the surveyor. The surveyor doesn't just rely upon the legal description in the deed to prepare the survey but, rather, uses precision surveying equipment. There is little to no margin of error on a boundary survey, and it can be relied upon to accurately erect fences or other improvements on your property. Because of the manpower and accuracy involved, a boundary survey can cost from $750 - $1,500, or higher for larger properties.
Thus, if you're buying a property where property lines may be at issue (such as unplatted lots with inexact acreage or metes and bounds legal descriptions), or if you plan to make any improvements to your property (such as a garage, permanent shed, fence, addition, sunroom, retaining walls or deck) it may be a good idea to order a boundary survey even if not required by your lender or title company to purchase the property, as this will insure the correct acreage, that the lot lines properly close, and that you do not encroach upon neighboring property or easements, or violate any building codes or property rights of others, all of which could be costly.
Title Insurance and Surveys: Even if your lender or title company doesn't require a survey for you to purchase the property, you may still want one. Here's why: any Owners Title Insurance Policy issued to you at settlement will contain exceptions for any matters which would have been disclosed by an accurate survey of the property.
For example, let's assume your lender doesn't require any type of survey, and you choose not to obtain one yourself. After closing, your neighbor decides to put in a pool and, during his own survey process, realizes that your garage (built by the prior owner) encroaches 6 feet onto his property. He hires a lawyer and demands that you remove the garage from his property. You file a title insurance claim.
Although an Owner's Policy will generally provide you with a legal defense and indemnity in the event of a title claim or loss, in this instance, your claim will be denied. Why? Because although you did purchase title insurance, you did not get a survey done, which would have disclosed the encroachment prior to settlement and, if disclosed, the matter could have been dealt with before you took title to the property. This would be yet another reason why you should consider getting a survey for your property, even if your lender doesn't require one.
Location Drawing: A location drawing is quick and inexpensive. Most buyers obtain this is the type of survey. It generally locates the property lines and all improvements on the lot using only the legal description found in the deed to the property. A Location Survey is enough to satisfy the needs of the lender and title company; however, it does not establish the actual, true property lines or corners of the property, and it cannot be relied upon to accurately erect a fence or other structures on the property. The cost of a location drawing is approximately $200 for properties under one acre and can usually be performed within a few days to a week.
Boundary Survey: A boundary survey takes longer and is more expensive. Most buyers do not obtain a boundary survey because of the cost. Rather, they opt for the location drawing; however, as you'll read below, there may be a legitimate need for a boundary survey, even in a common residential purchase where it's not required by the lender or title company.
A boundary survey locates the actual, true property lines and corners or your property, as well as the location of any building setback lines or easements for utilities, driveways, sidewalks, etc.. The property corners are marked by the surveyor. The surveyor doesn't just rely upon the legal description in the deed to prepare the survey but, rather, uses precision surveying equipment. There is little to no margin of error on a boundary survey, and it can be relied upon to accurately erect fences or other improvements on your property. Because of the manpower and accuracy involved, a boundary survey can cost from $750 - $1,500, or higher for larger properties.
Thus, if you're buying a property where property lines may be at issue (such as unplatted lots with inexact acreage or metes and bounds legal descriptions), or if you plan to make any improvements to your property (such as a garage, permanent shed, fence, addition, sunroom, retaining walls or deck) it may be a good idea to order a boundary survey even if not required by your lender or title company to purchase the property, as this will insure the correct acreage, that the lot lines properly close, and that you do not encroach upon neighboring property or easements, or violate any building codes or property rights of others, all of which could be costly.
Title Insurance and Surveys: Even if your lender or title company doesn't require a survey for you to purchase the property, you may still want one. Here's why: any Owners Title Insurance Policy issued to you at settlement will contain exceptions for any matters which would have been disclosed by an accurate survey of the property.
For example, let's assume your lender doesn't require any type of survey, and you choose not to obtain one yourself. After closing, your neighbor decides to put in a pool and, during his own survey process, realizes that your garage (built by the prior owner) encroaches 6 feet onto his property. He hires a lawyer and demands that you remove the garage from his property. You file a title insurance claim.
Although an Owner's Policy will generally provide you with a legal defense and indemnity in the event of a title claim or loss, in this instance, your claim will be denied. Why? Because although you did purchase title insurance, you did not get a survey done, which would have disclosed the encroachment prior to settlement and, if disclosed, the matter could have been dealt with before you took title to the property. This would be yet another reason why you should consider getting a survey for your property, even if your lender doesn't require one.
SUMMARY
As a quick summary, to order (or not order) a location or boundary survey, follow these steps:
IMPORTANT! Please do not delay your decision. The surveyor generally needs at least a week or more to complete even just a basic location drawing, so you must let us know as quickly as possible if you need or want a survey so that your settlement does not get delayed in any way.
We look forward to seeing you at settlement!
- Ask your lender if they require a location drawing/survey. If they do, you must order one. Simply complete the form at the top of this page and we will order one for you;
- If your lender doesn't require one, you must decide for yourself whether you need either a location drawing or boundary survey. Read the material on this page then complete the form at the top of this page and let us know what type of survey you want, if any.
IMPORTANT! Please do not delay your decision. The surveyor generally needs at least a week or more to complete even just a basic location drawing, so you must let us know as quickly as possible if you need or want a survey so that your settlement does not get delayed in any way.
We look forward to seeing you at settlement!