Why are property surveys significant?

Property surveys are significant mainly because they serve the primary purpose of delineating property boundaries and identifying easements or encroachments. Accurate boundary demarcation is crucial for property ownership clarity, preventing disputes between adjacent landowners, and ensuring that all parties understand where their property rights begin and end.

In addition to identifying boundaries, surveys can reveal any easements—areas where others have the right to use a portion of the property for a specific purpose—and encroachments, which occur when a structure or improvement crosses over the boundary line onto a neighboring property. This information is essential for maintaining legal clarity and protecting property investments.

While property surveys may be necessary in other contexts, such as purchasing insurance, assessing rental pricing, or conducting environmental assessments, their fundamental role lies in establishing the legality and extent of property boundaries. Thus, understanding this primary purpose is crucial for anyone involved in real estate transactions.