PHYSICAL SURVEY EXAMPLE

A standard physical survey identifies the legal boundaries, dimensions, and physical features of a property. It protects real estate investments by uncovering hidden encroachments and legal discrepancies before completing a transaction 

The vast majority of our clients need a survey for a mortgage. Having a survey allows a buyer to remove "survey exceptions" from the title insurance policy. Without an acceptable survey, title policies include a standard survey exception, meaning the insurer will not cover boundary disputes, overlaps, or encroachments. Reviewing a clean survey allows the title company to delete this exception.

Additionally, a survey reveals physical realities—such as a neighbor’s fence crossing a boundary line (encroachment) or a structure violating a setback requirement—that a standard public record title search misses. 

Following a mortgage, the most common survey requests are:

-HOA approval for fence building

-County/municipality permitting approval for construction

-Recombinations or minor subdivision plats