Property Survey: What It Is, When You Need It & How to Get It

Posted by Call Centre on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 at 8:21am.

House Survey: When Do You Need a Property Survey?

A property survey defines a property's boundaries and features. It's basically a detailed map and legal document that shows dimensions and structures, helping prevent disputes and clarify land ownership. There are many financial benefits to owning a home, but as a homeowner, it's vital to know exactly what you own. Discover why property surveys are an important part of home ownership.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Property Survey Highlights

  • A property survey accurately depicts property boundaries and features, which is essential for avoiding disputes and ensuring legal clarity.
  • Different types of property surveys, such as boundary, topographic, and construction surveys, cater to various needs and stages of property management and development.
  • Hiring a qualified, licensed land surveyor is critical for obtaining an accurate property survey and is fundamental for legal compliance and protecting property rights.

What Is a Survey in Real Estate?

A property survey is a meticulous examination of property boundaries and features. This inspection results in a detailed visual map and a legal document that precisely outlines the dimensions and locations of buildings, structures, and other relevant features. Essentially, a property survey serves as a blueprint of the land, detailing the size, boundaries, GPS coordinates, and adjacent roads.

For owners of vacant land and homes with acreage, a property survey is a no-brainer, but it can also be a smart move for homes on smaller lots. A property survey's main goal is establishing precise geographic boundaries and ensuring clear demarcation and understanding of property lines. This precision helps avoid disputes and clarifies what exactly falls within a property's lines. In legal terms, a property survey is indispensable and a critical reference point for any future transactions or legal disputes.

Relying on a survey plan is essential, but it's important to remember that properties can change over time. New fences, building additions, or natural changes can alter the landscape, emphasizing the need for updated surveys.

Why Do You Need a Property Survey?

A Cadastral Map from a Land Survey Shows Property Boundaries Between Neighbours

Property surveys are more than just a formality; they safeguard property owners. Surveys help identify ownership rights and prevent disputes with neighbours by defining property boundaries in precise legal terms. This is particularly important in avoiding costly and stressful legal battles over property lines. Homeowners living in or buying condos or townhomes typically don't need to worry about property surveys, but for most other property types, they're very important to have. 

An accurate survey is crucial for maintaining good relationships with neighbours and ensuring that everyone respects the defined boundaries. Moreover, property surveys help locate easements and rights-of-way, which can affect property usage and access.

If you're planning to build on your property, a topographic survey will be vital to structural planning.

Hiring a professional surveyor ensures that the survey adheres to strict standards, guaranteeing accuracy and reliability. These surveys are not just about defining boundaries but about protecting investments and ensuring property rights are established and legally recognized.

Types of Property Surveys

Property surveys come in various forms, each tailored to specific needs. The type of survey required depends largely on its purpose. The main types include boundary surveys, topographic surveys, and construction surveys. 

Professional surveyors, regulated by organizations like the Alberta Land Surveyors' Association, provide these surveys to meet specific real estate needs. Understanding the different types of property surveys is essential, whether dividing a parcel of land, planning new construction, or verifying property boundaries.

Boundary Survey

A boundary survey is essential for determining the precise borders of a property. This type of survey identifies property corners and is often used to resolve legal disputes over property lines. By marking the exact geographic boundary line, a boundary survey ensures that property owners are fully aware of their property's limits.

Detailed measurements and visual representations of property lines provided by this survey are crucial for any construction or renovation project. A property survey should be on your home building checklist—it's vital to know your property lines when building your dream home. It helps avoid encroachments and ensures compliance with local zoning laws and building permits.

Topographic Survey

Topographic surveys are invaluable for understanding a property's physical features and elevations. They illustrate contours and elevations, aiding in site improvement planning and ensuring construction projects are well-informed. The spacing of contour lines in these surveys indicates the slope of the land.

Engineers, developers, and government agencies often request topographic surveys for planning and regulatory purposes, making them essential for any large-scale development project.

Construction Survey

Construction surveys are critical during the building phase of any project. These surveys involve staking out locations for planned structures and assessing existing property improvements to ensure compliance with local laws. By identifying the location of utility features, construction surveys help in the effective planning and execution of construction projects.

These surveys are essential for construction workers and project managers—not to mention real estate investors—providing a clear roadmap for where new structures and improvements should be placed. Construction surveys help avoid costly mistakes and delays by meeting all legal and regulatory requirements.

How to Get a Survey of Your Property

A Theodolite is Specialized Equipment Used by Property Surveyors

Obtaining a property survey involves several steps, starting with finding a licensed land surveyor. In Canada, each province has a regulatory body that oversees the licensing of surveyors. For instance, the Alberta Land Surveyors' Association (ALSA) manages licensing in Alberta, while the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors (ABCLS) does the same in British Columbia.

Once you've identified potential surveyors, verifying their qualifications and licensing status is essential. This ensures that the surveyor adheres to provincial standards and maintains high professionalism.

How to Find a Property Surveyor

The first step in hiring a property surveyor is to find local surveyors. This can be done by searching online for surveyors in an area or using state surveying society websites. A local tax assessor's office or title company can also help track down a land surveyor, often having a list of reputable surveyors who have worked in a particular area.

Checking Qualifications

To maintain legal compliance, verify that a land surveyor is licensed with the provincial association where the related property is located. It is essential to review licenses and screen out unlicensed surveyors or those with complaints against them.

Ensuring your surveyor has a bachelor's degree and adheres to a standard assessment can provide additional peace of mind. This verification process is key to hiring a qualified professional who will deliver accurate and reliable results.

Property Survey Cost

The cost of a land survey cost can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the size of the property and the type of survey conducted. A very basic survey might run around $500, while acreage can run into the thousands. Larger properties or those with more complex boundaries will typically incur higher costs.

It's important to clarify the billing structure and any potential travel charges with the land surveyor to avoid unexpected expenses. Straightforward projects might have a fixed fee, while more involved surveying might be billed at an hourly rate. Understanding these costs upfront can help a person budget effectively and save money in the long run.

Is a Property Survey Required for Closing?

Having a property survey is not a legal requirement to close on a property, but it's certainly wise. The seller generally doesn't need to provide one for condos and townhouses, since development plan surveys are almost always already on file. Title insurance can help lessen the need for an up-to-date land survey.

Mortgage lenders may require a property survey in order to approve financing.

However, even if it's not required, a buyer should consider putting a property survey clause in their offer. Obtaining an existing property survey for future reference is important for improvements like fence lines and home additions, as well as revealing encroachments, easements, setback, etc.

Can I Use an Existing Property Survey?

An existing survey's validity depends on whether significant changes have occurred on the property. While you may not need to worry about survey validity when planning a home addition, you will likely need a new survey when making changes to the land itself. Older surveys can remain valid if conditions haven't changed since they were conducted. An older survey's validity has no specific expiration period, provided the property remains unchanged.

However, significant alterations or developments can render an older survey invalid. In such cases, a new survey may be necessary to reflect the property's current state accurately.

Benefits of Using an Existing Survey Plan

Using existing survey plans can offer significant benefits, including time and cost savings. It can also provide a reliable reference point for a property's details.

Survey plans can be found in large databases, such as the one hosted by Protect Your Boundaries, which contains over 2.5 million plans. If you're unsure about which survey plan to use, contacting the surveyor's office for assistance can help avoid unnecessary headaches.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

The Importance of Property Surveys

A property survey is an indispensable tool for property owners. It provides a clear and accurate depiction of the boundaries of vacant land and existing homes, helping to avoid disputes and ensure compliance with legal requirements. Understanding the different types of surveys and when they are needed can save time, money, and stress.

Hiring a qualified and experienced land surveyor can protect investments and gain peace of mind. Whether buying a new home, planning renovations, or resolving boundary issues, a property survey is a valuable resource.

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