The Importance of Land Surveys Before Purchase

Thousands of people purchase property every year and then have it surveyed before they make an offer. They’re cutting corners by not hiring a land surveyor first and saving money in the process.

Little do they know this decision could end up costing them tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, property disputes, and headaches later down the road.

If a land purchase isn’t surveyed first, buyers are just guessing what they are actually buying.

A land survey before purchase is more than a smart idea—it’s an essential form of protection before buying. With a land survey, you can have peace of mind knowing exactly where your property boundaries are, if there are any structures or improvements on the property, and if there are any legal issues regarding property ownership.

In this article, we’re going to dive into why you should have a land survey conducted before purchase.

Table of Contents

• Why Land Surveys Are Non-Negotiable
• The Hidden Dangers Of Skipping Your Survey
• How Modern Survey Technology Protects You
• Understanding Survey Costs vs. Legal Fees

Why Getting Land Surveyed Before You Buy Is Essential

First, let’s get one thing straight…

Property lines aren’t always where you think they are.

The fence line that separates your land from your neighbor’s? It might not be on the actual property line.

The driveway that sits on your land? It might not be on “your” land at all, but an encroachment.

Land surveys dispel all of this confusion before buyers purchase land.

A professional land survey will give you:

• Accurate property boundary lines with specific measurements
• Exact location of all structures and improvements on the property
• Identification of any easements or encroachments
• Verification of the actual size of the property being sold

Here’s another thing to consider. When you are purchasing property, you are relying on the seller to be truthful about what they are selling. You don’t necessarily know if the seller is accurate until a survey is conducted.

If you do the math, the land surveying market hit $9.4 billion in 2022 alone and continues to grow as people discover the value of knowing exactly what they are buying.

What Happens When You Skip The Survey

I know a few people that decided to not have land they were purchasing surveyed before they bought it.

Guess what happened…

They end up in a boundary dispute with their neighbor. The “two-acre lot” the sellers told them about was really only 1.7 acres. The barn they started building on “their” land was actually on someone else’s land.

And this isn’t a super rare thing either. Unclear or even nonexistent property documentation is one of the most common causes of boundary disputes among property owners.

And what happens when you get involved in one of these boundary disputes?

It usually ends up in court and you’re having to hire an attorney to defend your position. Guess how much attorney’s fees and other legal expenses usually run? More than the cost of the survey.

Buyers that decide not to get a land survey can encounter a number of issues.

• Encroachment issues: If there are any structures or improvements on the property, they may be encroaching on a neighbor’s property. This can lead to legal disputes and the need to move the structure.
• Easement surprises: There may be an easement on the property that was not disclosed. An easement is when another party has the legal right to use part of your land for a specific purpose, such as a utility company needing access to power lines.
• Size discrepancies: The actual size of the property may be smaller than what was advertised.
• Title problems: Boundary confusion or encroachments can lead to issues with the title of the property.

A common misconception is that you can rely on an old survey or plat map. However, property lines and details can change over time due to natural erosion, new construction, and shifting markers.

Getting a land survey before purchase can protect buyers from all of these nightmares.

How Modern Technology Makes Surveys Better

One interesting thing I found out about land surveys is…

Technology has improved dramatically over the years.

Professional surveyors use GPS systems, laser scanning technology, and even drones to map out properties with great accuracy. The drone technology is a game changer for modern land surveys.

Professional drones such as those offered by WISPR, who makes drones for inspection, are revolutionizing how we survey properties. They can provide detailed aerial images and 3D models of the property. This gives surveyors an incredible perspective and can help identify issues that are difficult to see from the ground level.

This modern technology means that land surveys are more accurate and reliable than ever before. Here’s how:

• More precise and accurate
• Quicker to complete
• Better at identifying potential problems
• Able to cover more ground in a shorter time

The drone technology in particular is a game changer. Surveyors are now able to map out large properties, inspect structures, and identify boundary markers from the air. This aerial perspective can be especially useful for properties with difficult terrain or areas that are hard to access on foot.

In addition to being more efficient, these new surveying technologies also reduce the potential for human error. When surveyors use high-tech GPS and laser systems, they can pinpoint property corners with pinpoint accuracy.

Understanding Survey Costs vs. Legal Fees

I want to touch on one other important subject before we dive into the conclusion.

How much does a land survey usually cost?

According to data I found, the national average cost for a land survey is around $543 with most falling between $376 and $768, depending on the size and complexity of the property.

Some buyers get that quote and think they can save a few hundred dollars by doing the purchase without the survey.

Big mistake.

Think of all the money that could be spent later on in legal fees, court costs, and headaches.

Don’t be the person that “skips” the survey to save a few hundred dollars only to end up spending thousands down the road.

The cost of a land survey is almost minuscule compared to the legal fees and property disputes that could arise if the land is not surveyed first.

Plus, most mortgage lenders require a land survey before they will even approve a loan. They know that without an accurate survey, the loan is at greater risk. Even if you’re paying cash and the lender doesn’t require a survey, a land survey is still money well spent.

Land survey prices will depend on the size of the property, terrain difficulty, and any additional features that need to be included in the survey.

In every case, the land survey is important and gives the buyer protection and valuable information about the property.

Bringing It All Together

Getting land surveyed before purchase is one of the best things a land buyer can do.

It provides critical information about the property and what is included in the sale. It provides clear, undisputed property boundary lines and can save buyers thousands of dollars in legal fees and construction headaches later.

Modern land survey technology has made it more efficient and more accurate than ever before. For such a critical decision as the purchase of land, surveys are more than a smart move.

They are essential.

Don’t be the land buyer that regrets not getting that survey completed before they bought.

Don’t gamble with your money or your investment.

Buy land with confidence by getting it surveyed first.