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How to Review a Property Survey

Make sure what's on the ground matches the title — and nothing crosses a line it shouldn't.

A property (boundary) survey is your visual of what's really on the land. Reviewing it means making sure the property matches the legal description — and that nothing crosses a line it shouldn't. Here's what to check.

This guide covers reviewing a property/land survey (the kind ordered on a real estate closing). It's general information, not a substitute for a licensed surveyor's certification.

1. Match the survey to the legal description

2. Look for encroachments

3. Confirm easements & setbacks

4. Flag conditions that affect the policy or the buyer

If something's off: encroachments, an unrecorded easement, or a structure over a setback can become title exceptions or contract issues — raise them with your title officer, the surveyor, and the buyer's attorney before closing.

Learn it hands-on

Want to master this — not just read about it?

These guides scratch the surface. Title Agent Academy walks you through real files, step by step, until it's second nature.