Property/House Surveys: When and When Not?

[Matt Vaughn]

I want to hear everyone's opinion here.  Under what circumstances do you guys order a survey of your property and when do you not?  

Are there any low cost strategies that you use to minimize risk without ordering the survey?

[JH Bridge]

@Matt Vaughn 

In CO there are "surveys" called ILC's (Improvement Location Certificate). I quote surveys because it is not a signed, recorded document. However, it is performed by a survey company & is exactly what you're looking for. What it is is a crew will come out & locate your property pins, locate improvements on said property, produce a plot, & give it to you. It will answer your fence question, any setback issues, etc... It will NOT be a legal document as title work, easements, encumbrances, and the like have not been gone through by a licensed surveyor. It may be different city to city, but here they run about $200-300, far less than a full blown survey. You can think of it as a lot inspection. Much like a home inspection, they try to uncover defects, minimize potential risk & use the info to inform the buyer. I'm sure VA has them as well. Just look up a local surveying company & they should be able to get you going.

JH Bridge

@Sharad M. see above text about it being similar to an inspection.  Not saying you need one on every property, but if you ever run into something a little fishy, it might be worth the few hundred dollars to avoid boundary disputes down the line.