Is it worth getting a survey when buying a house?

by | Jun 22, 2022 | Boundary survey, Flood Zones, Surveying Related

Purchasing a home is one of the largest and most important decisions that you were going to make during your lifetime. There are many steps and phases to purchasing a home including; getting approved for a loan, having a home inspections, obtaining a clear title and deed to the property, purchasing a home warranty, the list goes on and on! One of the optional things you have to consider is whether or not you want a survey performed on the property. Don’t underestimate the importance of this step!

The purpose of a home property survey is to identify what land you are purchasing and the improvements located on that land. The most common type of survey performed in conjunction with the purchase of your home is called a boundary survey with improvements.

The boundary survey will show you the ground where your property ownership starts and stops. Survey monuments, which are typically denoted with an iron pipe or rebar, are located at each corner of the property. Those survey monuments are verified or set by the land surveyor to visibly show what land you do and do not own. In addition the surveyor can also locate the improvements on the lot which would include your house, concrete, decking, fences, and possibly even landscaping areas.

While having a survey performed is not typically required by your lender or title company, it does ensure that you know exactly what it is you are purchasing. Could you imagine if after move in you decide to add a white picket fence to your new dream house and unbeknownst to you it extends into your neighbor’s property and then you have to tear it down – ugh, the wasted investment and aggravation that would cause! It has happened, believe me.

When it comes to asking the question, “is it worth it”, it is a personal decision. If you think it’s important to know exactly what you’re purchasing, then YES it is worth it! A typical boundary survey will cost you anywhere from $400 to $1000 depending on several factors. When you look at the cost in comparison to the purchase price of your home it barely makes a blip on the radar.

Cardinal Surveying would like the opportunity to earn your business. They service the greater St Louis Metro area, have been rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau since 2003, have surveyed over 35,000 properties and are a family owned company who prides themselves on producing accurate results with exceptional customer service. They can be contacted via email at [email protected] or phone at 636.922.1001. They look forward to working with you for all your land surveying needs.