Often times in a real estate transaction, the survey is one of the last items ordered and completed prior to closing. But here is why you need to stay on top of this and have a Realtor who is savvy enough to understand its implications.
A survey is a certified property boundary report performed by a licensed property surveyor that clearly defines boundaries of the property and the outline of any improvements on the land (i.e., the home). It is really a map of the land and the house. This map can help you determine several important facts.
1. Utilities and easements.
Almost always, a property is going to have electrical lines running along the rear of the property. Sometimes, utility companies such as FPL will have an easement on your property. This can be a large electrical box located somewhere on the side, or rear of your property. You will need to allow for access to this box by the utility companies for service or repairs. This typically only means you cannot block it off or build something on that small portion of your land. Think about how critical this could be if you were planning to build a guest house in the back corner of your lot, for example. Important to know it’s there.
2. Fence locations.
Fences are often times old, and varying degrees of “straight” lines, as they have typically been on the property borders for an unknown number of years. Often, a seller isn’t even aware if the fence is theirs or the neighbor’s fence. A survey will depict where the fence lies. Sometimes, buyers (and sellers!) are surprised to find out that their fence is 2 feet over onto their neighbor’s property! This is important to understand if your intention was to install a new fence. You may need to move it over when you pull permits to install a new fence. I have even seen incidences where a credit towards closing costs is given to the buyer at closing to account for this potential issue.
3. Room for a pool.
Miami seems to be the land of pools! In the city with the second highest number of homes with pools in all the country (according to LendingTree.com), if you actually find a home without one, chances are you’re going to want to know if you have room to add one! By understanding how close the home is to the rear border of the property line, you can then figure out whether the measurement of a pool would fit. Keep in mind, you’ll have to verify each municipalities rules on setbacks, as you can’t build a pool on the edge of the property.
4. Encroachments
Encroachment is another critical item that will show up on a survey. If you don’t have a fence around your property, and your neighbor somehow built a pergola that sits 2 feet within your property, that would be considered an encroachment. This would be noted on the survey. If it is a movable structure, such as a shed, perhaps it is easy to move. But a fixed pergola would be more of a concern. “Some encroachments of mere inches may not seem like a big deal, but others that reach several feet can be a major concern for a buyer, creating title issues, and even liability issues,” says Alfredo Gonzalez, real estate attorney with Gunster.
A knowledgeable Realtor and your real estate attorney can help you navigate your options on what to do if you discover any of these concerns on the survey. Just don’t wait until the day before closing to panic order the survey! Ask for a previous copy of a survey from the seller if they have one, and get your new one ordered and completed well in advance of your closing!