Make this the year you get BoundaryWise

A new year is here and we have a resolution idea for all homeowners who don’t have a property survey plan – make this the year you get one!

A land survey plan is an essential homeowner document: it provides vital data about your property on one unique, specialized map – information that you need for successful real estate transactions and home improvement projects, and to ensure that you and your neighbours respect each others’ property rights.

Ideally, you should get a survey plan when you buy your home to ensure there are no hidden boundary issues lurking on the property (be sure to examine the plan before closing in consultation with your real estate agent and lawyer). This aspect of the due diligence process is critical – a recent study shows that 49% of properties in the Greater Toronto Area have property boundary discrepancies that could lead to disputes between neighbours. And these disputes can be expensive if you are forced to relocate a structure on your property or if you end up arguing your point in court.

If you’re selling your home, providing a copy of the survey plan can reassure buyers there are no problematic issues ahead regarding the property boundaries or title, encouraging a quick sale at an optimal price. And then there are backyard improvements and home additions: If you are dreaming of adding a new pool, a fabulous new deck or expanding your home this summer, do yourself a favour now and get a plan BEFORE you start the design process. It’s heartbreaking to invest in a backyard reno that turns out to be located in the wrong place and needs to be redone.

In addition to the displaying the legal boundaries of the property – the most critically important feature – a survey plan also shows:

• the size and shape of the property
• the location of rights of ways and easements
• distances from the boundary to houses, sheds, fences, utilities and any features of importance to the landowner
• the location of physical monuments that mark the limits of the land (e.g., iron survey bars)

A survey plan is an important legal document that can also reveal hidden title deficiencies, highlight building encroachments and demonstrate authentic property dimensions that may not correspond with the unverified descriptions included in the deed. Municipal building and planning departments, for example, rely on surveys as part of their approval process when reviewing submissions.

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, it’s never been easier to find existing survey plans of your property – simply type your address in the search bar on the PYB home page. We can also help you understand how to read a survey plan, or you can book a phone consultation with an Ontario Land Surveyor.

Other questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you – post a comment on our blog or via Facebook or Twitter. We wish you all the best in 2015!