Candace, that is why I have my own pool.

But seriously, people need to talk with a Real Estate Professional in these matters.  The internet is so broad and buying a home is very finite.

I pretty much always ask for a survey, when I represent a buyer(as the listing agent may not have asked the seller for an up to date one).

When I list a property, I ask the seller for a survey, if they don't know or don't want to know.  I tell them it may hold up closing when we do get an offer.  Most sellers take my advice and get it early on to sell the home sooner rather than later.

However, I do have people fight the idea and when we can't close soon enough(it takes 4-6 weeks here, for a survey) they are kicking themselves.  By the way when they buy a new place, these people are always the first to ask for a survey.

Candace, you have to drain the pool.

The only problem that I have with the original statement would be "Most of the time" it [is] not necessary to have a survey if a property was located within a platted subdivision or town.  

Nate, my nieghbor up there in American Falls, I take it that you sell a lot of larger parcels.  Since starting in business, 1992, I have been involved in one survey.  It was a home on acreage and my own investment. The county said it was 14 acres and one border of the property was the mid point of the Weber River. We though we should know what we were getting.  The surveyors promised 4 weeks and took 3 months and charged 3 times what they quoted.  What an ordeal, but it turned out to 29 acres!  Interestingly the known boundaries was not the issue, it was clearly fenced and the fences were not off by much at all.

Because of the ordeal of waiting and waitng and increased costs, I would be very hesitant to order another survey.  The one turned out OK, but it might have gone the other way, plus the cost.

In established subdivisons where fences have existed forever, surveys could cause way more issues than they resolve!

Troy, I do sell large parcels up here to out of state buyers, but I also sell homes in the Original Townsite of American Falls(this town was moved to make way for the A.F. Reservoir) and when the Bureau of Reclamation laid out the town it wasn't exactly square.

When I redeveloped a block in 1999, it was determined that the block was not a rectangle. (approx. six(6') off on one side/end).

The city re- serveyed the whole town and found that nothing was equal.

Since that time, with the help of GPS, many parts of this side of the State have been resurveyed.

This is problably why I recommend surveys here.

I would never not advise that a survey is not needed. Surveys find encorchments and other problems.  We sell a lot of waterfront in our area.  Some of the property extends into the lake. Some does not.  In times past seems that developers would keep the land next to the waterfront so that the person does not own to the water.  What a nightmare to find some of the developers or their decendents to get the small areas deeded to buyers.  Some property goes to a certain sea level IE: the 825 line which is full on Lake LBJ.  If the home owner wants a retaining wall they do not build it at the 825 line.  They go out into the water, build concrete walls and backfill the area.  They do not own the fill area.  

Knowing this, can an agent advertise this as waterfront property?  Been a question around here a long time.  As a buyers agent you better prepare your client for these situations.  A survey is a must weather platted subdivision or not.

I'm going to quit now, but could go on and on in favor of survey.

Tommy, I think that is a triple negative there, but I get the gist.  Where are all the, in town, urban agents.  I can't imagine that surveys are done (or even should be) on anything like 10% of the total transactions in this country.

I am saying transactions here. Of course, on the total dollar amount of Real Estate Sold, the percentage is probably much higher.  By the way, I don't think I would advise anyone that thinks it wise, not to do one.  I would just get them facts about cost, time frames, etc. and let them decide.  

Candice, it's only 500 links to where the old oak tree use to stand and then right until you get to the edge of Lake Mead. Just follow the waters edge until you get to Alma's Dock and back the way the crow flys. What ya gonna do? Make old Ferguson move his barn? Geez, can't we all just get along?

I have heard this over and over in our area.  The area I sell and live in is a platted resort.  I still recommend a survey.   Lots here can be deceiving by shrub, tree, weed growth and markers can be hard to locate.    If they want to buy vacant land without a survey, they will find out they have to get one anyways when they build.    It is only smart to do it up front.  I forwarn them at the time of purchase and keep several survey business cards handy.