Call (314) 452-8211
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Dan Brassil

  • About Dan
  • Neighborhoods
    • St. Louis City
    • St. Louis County
    • Explore St. Louis
  • Sellers
    • Sell My Home
    • Using An Agent
    • Pricing Your Home
    • Getting Your Home Ready
  • Buyers
    • Find Me A Home
    • Why Use An Agent?
    • Steps to Buying a Home
  • Relocation
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Do I Really Need a Survey?

You have found your dream home, made an offer, and they accepted. Congratulations! Now it’s time for the real work to begin. Beyond researching the title on the property, you should seriously consider having a survey of the property conducted even if it is not mandatory by the title company.

What is a Survey?
A survey determines whether the house is within its supposed borders, whether there are any encroachments* on the property, and the extent to which any easements** on the property may affect legal title.

Do I Have to Get a Survey?
It wasn’t until a few decades ago that lenders started to require a survey when securing a loan. It starts with the title company who will research the title on the property to ensure there are no discrepancies of ownership not any liens. When purchasing a home through a lender, you will also purchase title insurance which will protect you in case anything was missed. Since an encroachment or an easement could lower the value of a property, most lenders require a survey to ensure the estimated value of the mortgage.

Even if you are not required to have a survey conducted (all cash deals), you should still have a survey conducted. Without one, you risk encroaching on a neighbors property when adding a fence, porch, or stairs down the line.

How Much is a Survey?
A “spot survey” or Surveyors Real Property Report will run about $150-250.
A “stake survey” or Boundary Report will run around$350-450.

What Kind Do I Need?
A “spot” survey is a visual guide that represents only a cursory check on the location of any improvements. It may not disclose such matters as encroachments, overlaps and boundary line unless it is visually obvious.

A “stake” or boundary survey is preformed to physically mark the title lines on the ground. Property corners are marked with iron stakes in the ground with stakes set along side. Long lines are marked with stakes set every 150 – 200 feet. This type of survey will disclose encroachments.

While there is a considerable difference it price between the two, the “stake” survey is almost always recommended. While it may cost you more, it always pays off to be a little more cautious especially with something as valuable as a your own home or potential investment.

* An encroachment occurs when your neighbor’s house, garage, swimming pool, fence, or other permanent fixture stands partially on your property or hangs over it.

**An easement is a right given to another person or entity to trespass upon land that person or entity does not own. Easements are used for roads, for example or given to utility companies for the right to bury cables or access utility lines

If you are in need of references for a survey company, I am able to provide them.

Dan Brassil
Real Estate Professional
St. Louis Real Estate. Evolved.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured Properties

10846 Antrill Drive $215,000

10846 Antrill Drive St Louis, Missouri

3 Beds 2 Baths 0.181 Acres

See All Listings

Search the Blog

Monthly Archives

12

Dan and his assistant Christy kept us on point throughout the contract process.

1

Dan was honest and looked out for my best interest. I truly felt like he listened to what I wanted in a home.

8

Throughout the whole process, he was on point, always had an answer or a solution to our concerns.

7

You could tell his effort was a reflection of his desire to genuinely help us and do well at a profession he’s obviously passionate about.

10

He was instrumental in getting issues addressed that came up in the inspection and made us feel confident that we were making a sound investment. 

2

He helped us do what felt like the impossible, buy a home well within our price-range, with the space we need in the location we want.

11

Dan was the most honest and straight forward person during the entire process.

6

He went above and beyond when trying to help get us in a new house when ours sold so much faster than we expected.

3

We’ve sold two homes with Dan and purchased one and each experience with him has been nothing short of low stress and great results.

9

Employing him as our realtor was the best decision we could have made as first time homebuyers.

4

His knowledge of the city and older homes was a huge help in carefully evaluating the condition of each home we entered.

5

He guided us through the process of 3 different offers and made sure that we weren’t over paying.

About

about-dan

"As a community specialist, I match buyers with homes and sellers with the marketing and pricing advice that sells."

Upcoming Events

Locations

Broker/Sales
Licensed Missouri Realtor

601 E Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119

3353 Roger Place
St. Louis, MO 63116

8151 Clayton Rd. Suite 301
Clayton, MO 63117

M | 314.452.8211
O | 314.352.5200
E | info@danbrassil.com

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Contact

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2023 · Dan Brassil