The Importance of a Land Survey Before Purchasing Land

The Importance of a Land Survey Before Purchasing Land

If you are interested in purchasing real estate, the wrong way to go about it is to simply look for a plot or house that you want, and then make an offer. There are many often-forgotten steps that you need to take before this aspect. Many people often forget the land survey step of shopping for land. The optimum time to possess a land survey undertaken is before you complete the process of purchasing the land.

Land surveyors can determine the boundary measurements to make certain that the plot of land you think you're buying is actually what you are buying. The land surveyor can tell you if the trees, building ,fences, sidewalks, driveways, along with other top features of the land actually lie on the property, and also whether anyone else's buildings or other features encroach onto the house you wish to buy.


They will also be familiar with building regulations, wetland regulations, and zoning. Land surveys are particularly helpful when investing in a piece of property that you desire to eventually build on, because they can catch potential problems with this plan before you purchase the land. In case you are purchasing mountainous land, land that may be considered wetlands, or land in other areas which may be difficult to build on, a land surveyor may help you evaluate the possibilities for building upon the land. If you plan to develop the land or subdivide it, a survey can assist you determine whether that is possible and even legal.

Do not set off an old land survey provided by the current landowner. It may not describe recent changes to the land. The land surveyor you hire can place permanent markers on the corners of your property so that you are well-aware of the boundaries of the land that you will soon own. Before conducting  Learn more here , you might like to ask your agent for a house profile, that may list the ownership information, legal description, plat map, tax information, and other characteristics. This is an excellent place to start when evaluating a potential property purchase. At least some of this information can also be available online. Then, be sure that you go to the property and walk the entire site, even if it is several acres, to see what it looks like with your own eyes.

Having a land survey conducted prior to the land changes hands is merely due diligence. Do not rely on anyone else's word, such as the landowner's, or a property agent's, when purchasing land. This is a big purchase, also it should not be done if you don't know exactly what you are buying. If you cannot get a land survey before placing a formal offer, at least have one done prior to the deal closes. The land surveyor provides you with the best information possible to determine whether the piece of real estate will fit the bill. If any red flags come up, make sure that they are resolved to your satisfaction before closing on this real estate deal.

You do not want to make the mistake of buying land that is of no use to you, or buying land that is not what you thought it had been. Although it's especially important to get a land survey conducted when you are buying acreage or plan to develop the land, a land survey even of a little lot with a house can still catch potential problems before it's too late.