Cost to do a Property Survey – 2024 Average Prices

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On this page:

• How Much Does a Survey Cost?
• Property Survey Types
• Mortgage Survey
• Who Is Responsible for Paying, the Buyer or the Seller?
• New Construction Survey
• Boundary Survey
• What Can I Expect from a Residential Land Report?
• Topographic Survey
• ALTA Survey
• Fence Building Survey
• Plat or Plot Survey
• Property Improvement Survey
• Getting Quotes & Estimates for a Survey
• References

[ see all ]

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How Much Does a Survey Cost?

It is wise to have a survey completed before you go to the expense of having something built you might need to have removed, especially if it does not comply with zoning laws and local ordinances by being too close to the edge of your property.

Other variables you will want to consider include: how long the survey is good for, generally 5-10 years, although this may vary by state, and how long it takes to complete. When you have a contractor lined up and ready to begin an improvement project, you do not want to keep them waiting while you complete a survey.

On the other hand, you do not want to pay to build, only to pay to have it moved, removed, or rebuilt. Some surveyors will complete it quicker if you spend a little more; rush jobs usually add $100 – $200 per day.

Before you hire a surveyor, make sure to get everything in writing to avoid problems. For instance, if you are building a fence and someone sues you for encroachment, who pays to move the fence if the surveyor’s lines are incorrect? Common sense would say the surveyor, but if you do not have it in writing, it could require a civil suit or a trip to small claims court to get them to pay for their error.

The cost of a survey depends on the type of survey needed. There are several types depending on what you plan on using them for.

Property Survey Types

There are several types of property surveys, and the costs depend on several factors, such as why you need the survey done and how difficult the property is to access and visualize. Surveying a plot in a wide-open field to find property lines of an inherited property from relatives could be a DIY survey, or an inexpensive stake site or plot survey, for example.

Mortgage Survey

Many issues can get worked out before you get a mortgage on a new property when you complete a survey before you buy. Some banking institutions and title companies insist on a completed survey as a part of closing.^[1]

The good news is, you will have a basis for any fence or property improvements you intend to do. Plus, you will know if a neighbor has encroached on your property and possibly avert property feuds in the future. A typical, uncomplicated mortgage survey is about $500.

Who Is Responsible for Paying, the Buyer or the Seller?

In five states, the seller is responsible for paying for and providing the survey to the buyer: Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Missouri. In other states, either the buyer pays, or the person who pays is negotiable.

New Construction Survey

You will need a new construction survey completed before you start building a new home or commercial building. This process commonly consists of topography, boundary stakes, and property line location services. It costs between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on the size and terrain.

Boundary Survey

A professional survey team will lay out your boundaries and provide their legal description.^[2] Both the buyer and the seller could benefit from getting an official boundary survey, but the benefit to the buyer could last a lot longer. This survey is one of the most basic and cheapest; around $200 to $700 for a small plot and $600 to $1,000 for an acre or two.

If there is a boundary in dispute, expect to pay around $20 to $25 an hour more for any work done on this issue.

What Can I Expect from a Residential Land Report?

In this report, you should have a mapped representation of your property lines, an outlined plot or plat improvement indicator, and any topographical features, other property lines that infringe or meet your property lines, and service entrances and easements that cross your land or plot.

Topographic Survey

This survey lays out the topographic elements of a plot, such as trees, streams, ponds, fences, and buildings. For plots less than 10,000 square feet, expect to pay $500 to $1,200.

ALTA Survey

The American Land Title Association is by far the most comprehensive and expensive land survey. You can expect to pay $2,500 – $3,000 or more for very large properties, but it will catch any boundary issues, particularly for commercial property sales, but you can also get one for residential properties.^[3]

Fence Building Survey

Even when you will tear out and replace a fence, you want to ensure every portion of the fence is on your land to prevent having to move or remove it. When planning and laying out a new fence efficiently, the survey cost depends on the land size and terrain but usually costs between $250 – $1,000.

Plat or Plot Survey

A plot plan costs around $100 – $200, usually from the developer for a plot within a housing development, and plat surveys are $25 or $30 from the county. A plot plan is not meant to be accurate but defines how the development should get laid out.

The plat survey will lay out streets and buildings surrounding your plot and is a legal document. When you buy a plot, you should be given both, if not, ask for them.

Property Improvement Survey

It’s a good idea to have a survey completed before building any type of addition, driveway, pool, or patio. Even a second-story porch could encroach onto a neighbor’s property. These are usually fairly simple and cost $200 – $500, depending on the property size.

Getting Quotes & Estimates for a Survey

When buying or selling a property, the real estate agent might use a particular appraiser and either add their fees to closing costs or get the money upfront. In the five states listed above, if you are the seller, you can ask that the survey gets charged to the buyer.

However, an appraisal could be completely different from the survey and include the fair market value for the house and property, not just property lines and boundaries. To get a realistic estimate of how much a survey will cost when buying or selling a property, the best place to start is a reputable local real estate agent.

Another source for an independent survey team is the building inspector or tax assessor’s office. Both deal with survey teams regularly and know who will give you a fair price.

Remember to save money on moving, removing, or rebuilding, and always start a new project with an independent survey. When you plan to build a fence, discuss it with your neighbors to see if you can split the costs of the survey and the fence.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.