ALWAYS get a survey when buying a house!

[lecach]

We're buying a house and our realtor insisted we get a survey. We really didnt want to, and it IS optional here in NC, but we went ahead. Good thing - the beautiful shadow box fence in the back yard is 14 FEET over the property line! Luckily it's on the neighborhood commons area and its not an area that could be used for anything else by the neighborhood due to drainage. We're hoping the HOA will grant an easement. Otherwise the sellers will have to move the fence.

I will ALWAYS get a survey from now on.

 

[abdmom]

We had a contract on a house once. The survey showed that things were all over the place. Mailbox on neighbor's property, neighbor's boat slip on our property, our boat slip on neighbor's property. We told the seller to fix those things. They didn't. We walked. For some reason, the sellers were surprised at this.

 

[FireDancer]

I completely agree. I wouldn't buy any home without a survey and I am pretty sure I didn't have a choice when I bought mine. I wasn't allowed to sign the mortgage papers without bringing the survey results in with me.

 

[3DisneyDivas]

I'm a title insurance agent & title examiner in Virginia & I COMPLETELY agree!!
Yes, it costs a little bit upfront, but there is no other way to know exactly what you are buying. And in addition, don't just get the survey, make sure you get it recorded in the local Clerk's office~ it will make life a lot easier for you if/when you go to sell the property. ***also, buy the title insurance!!**

 

[daughtersrus]

We're buying a house and our realtor insisted we get a survey. We really didnt want to, and it IS optional here in NC, but we went ahead. Good thing - the beautiful shadow box fence in the back yard is 14 FEET over the property line! Luckily it's on the neighborhood commons area and its not an area that could be used for anything else by the neighborhood due to drainage. We're hoping the HOA will grant an easement. Otherwise the sellers will have to move the fence.

I will ALWAYS get a survey from now on.

I've never bought a house without one. It wasn't even an option for us. It was included in the closing. I'm not sure if it was a requirement to get a mortgage or a law. I've never had the luxury of paying cash for a property.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It seems like when we bought our house there were two different kinds of surveys we could do. One was included in the closing, I believe and the other was one that our realtor said we could do, but he didn't think it was necessary for some reason, which I can't remember now.

 

[missj1975]

Not only did I get a survey when I bought my house, but I also paid for a home inspection and a well/septic inspection (house is right outside of town). The house inspector said the roof was crap (looked fine to me) so I asked for a new roof in my offer and got it!!! I believe my buyer's agent said all of these inspections were optional and kind of discouraged me to get them since I would have to pay out of pocket for them but I got them anyway, well worth it!!!

 

[tvguy]

I would never have thought of doing a survey in an established subdivision, raw land, or acerage, sure, not a subdivision. Only purchased one house, and plan to be here for the rest of my life, so too late now.

I will caution folks to make sure ANYONE doing inspections is licensed and insured. My boss has her house for sale, accepted an offer, buyer requested a home inspection. Home inspector blew up the compressor on the A/C unit. He wasn't licensed or insured. Buyers withdrew offer because the A/C was broken. Contract clearly says THEY are responsible for any damage anyone they hire does. They buyer says, tough, sue us. Bottom line, it will take years in court to resolve this, cost my boss far more than just a new A/C system would, so, they've moving on.

 

[chamonix]

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure or range on how much a survey costs?

 

[KCK]

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure or range on how much a survey costs?

It should be between $300 and $400 from a reputable company but of course could vary a bit based on location and complexity. I got my surveyor's name from the banker who was preparing my loan.

 

[Ceila]

I always thought that getting a survey and a home inspection were givens. I'd never buy a home without them.

 

[Tink888]

I'm a title insurance agent & title examiner in Virginia & I COMPLETELY agree!!
Yes, it costs a little bit upfront, but there is no other way to know exactly what you are buying. And in addition, don't just get the survey, make sure you get it recorded in the local Clerk's office~ it will make life a lot easier for you if/when you go to sell the property. ***also, buy the title insurance!!**

Absolutely!!!!

I also have experience in the title industry. It used to be that lender's would require the survey endorsement on the final title policy and most insurers would only accept a new survey in a purchase transaction and a survey not more than three years old for a refinances.

I couldn't agree more with ALWAYS purchasing title insurance as well, especially in this climate. With the prior housing boom, so many properties have been refinanced, flipped and sold in such short periods of time. I can't tell you the number of times examiners have missed things and counties that were overwhelmed just by the sheer number of recordings. Why anyone would choose not to be protected and insured against potential claims just to save a few bucks is beyond me.