There are two kinds of survey you will hear about, and they do different jobs. A location survey is the one Smart Settlements recommends when buying a home: it is a drawing that shows where the house, patios, additions, and other structures sit on the lot, along with easements, encroachments, restrictions, and rights of way that affect the property. A boundary survey is more precise and more extensive, and it is typically ordered when construction or a new fence is planned, or when a boundary or title question needs a firm answer. For most buyers in Fairfax, the location survey is the right purchase tool.
What the survey protects you from is surprise. A fence, shed, or driveway that crosses a lot line, a utility easement running through the yard where you planned a pool, or an addition built closer to the boundary than you assumed: these are the kinds of facts a survey surfaces before closing, while they can still be discussed and resolved. Highland Title, a Virginia title company, makes the related insurance point plainly: title insurance does not cover issues that an accurate survey would have revealed. Skip the survey and a boundary problem discovered later is generally yours to fix. In Vienna, where mature lots and older subdivisions are common, that check earns its place in the budget.
Virginia's own disclosure form points the same direction. The Residential Property Disclosure Statement from the Virginia Real Estate Board says the owner makes no representation about current lot lines or about your ability to expand, improve, or add structures, and it advises buyers to obtain a property survey and to check local zoning rules on lot coverage, height, and setbacks. That advice matters most if you are buying in Reston or anywhere else with future plans in mind: an addition, a fence, or a detached structure all start with knowing exactly where your land begins and ends.
A few practical notes. Surveys are not done for condominiums, since you are buying a unit rather than a lot. Order the survey early in your contract period, not in the final days, so you have time to read it, compare it against what you saw at the home, and raise questions with the surveyor or your settlement company before closing. Cash buyers sometimes skip the survey because no lender is asking for one, but the risks it covers do not depend on how you pay. Keep the finished survey with your closing documents: you, a future contractor, or a future buyer will be glad it exists.
FAQ
What is the difference between a location survey and a boundary survey?
A location survey shows where the home and other improvements sit on the lot, plus easements, encroachments, and rights of way. It is the survey recommended for a home purchase. A boundary survey is more precise and extensive, and it is typically ordered when construction or fencing is planned or when a boundary or title issue needs a definitive answer.
Who orders and pays for the survey in Virginia?
The buyer does. Location surveys are typically ordered by buyers in conjunction with the purchase, often through the settlement company handling the closing. Order it early in the contract period so any issue it raises can be addressed before settlement, not discovered at the table.
Do I need a survey if I am buying a condo in Virginia?
No. Surveys are not done for condominiums, because you are purchasing a unit inside a building rather than a parcel of land with lot lines to verify. Your due diligence for a condo centers on the association documents, budget, and rules instead.
What happens if the survey shows an encroachment or easement problem?
Raise it with your agent and settlement company right away, before closing. Some findings are simply facts to accept, such as a utility easement that limits where you can build. Others, like a structure crossing a lot line, may need a written agreement or another resolution between the parties. Finding out before you own the home is the entire point of the survey.