Understanding Your Property Survey: A Homeowner’s Guide
When you bought your home, you likely received a stack of documents at closing. One of the most important, yet often overlooked, is the property survey. A property survey is a legal drawing that depicts the exact legal boundaries of your property and any improvements or features on it.
Understanding this document is essential for any homeowner, as it is the definitive map of what you own.
What is the Purpose of a Property Survey?
A property survey, prepared by a licensed surveyor, serves several critical purposes:
- It precisely defines the dimensions and boundaries of your land.
- It shows the location of your house, driveway, and other structures in relation to those boundaries.
- It reveals any legal easements or encroachments on your property.
You will need your property survey for any future projects, such as building a fence, adding an extension to your home, or resolving a dispute with a neighbor.
Key Terms to Understand on Your Survey
A survey can look technical, but it’s easy to understand once you know the key terms.
Boundary Lines
These are the solid lines that draw the perimeter of your property. They are usually marked with measurements (in feet) and directions (using compass bearings), legally defining the edges of your land.
Easements
An easement is a legal right that allows someone else to use a portion of your property for a specific purpose, even though you still own it. Your survey will show any easements with dotted or dashed lines. A common example is a utility easement, which allows the power or water company to access lines that run through your yard.
Encroachments
An encroachment is when a structure belonging to your neighbor—such as a fence, a shed, or the edge of a driveway—crosses over your property line. Your survey will identify any encroachments, which can be a source of legal disputes.
Setbacks
Your survey may also show setback lines. These are rules established by your local zoning ordinance that dictate how far from the property line any structures must be built. You will need to know your setbacks before planning any new construction.
Why Domidocs is the Best Place to Keep Your Property Survey
Your property survey is a foundational document for your home. Losing it can be a major hassle and paying for a new one can be expensive. Domidocs provides the perfect solution for protecting and managing this critical document.
The Domidocs secure digital vault is the ideal place to store a high-resolution digital copy of your property survey. By uploading it to your vault, you ensure it is:
- Protected for Life: Your digital copy is safe from being lost, damaged by water, or destroyed in a fire.
- Always Accessible: When you’re planning a new fence or discussing a boundary with a neighbor, you can instantly pull up your survey on your phone or tablet.
- Organized with Other Property Documents: Your survey can be stored in your “Property & Title” folder right alongside your deed and title insurance policy, creating a complete, organized hub for all your most important property records.
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