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By Cynthia Quarantello

Cynthia Quarantello is an award-winning Real Estate Agent specializing in buying and selling homes throughout the Triangle area. She holds advanced degrees in advertising, marketing, and business, which enable her to provide exceptional service to her clients.

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When you’re buying a home, it’s easy to focus on the flashy details like the kitchen backsplash or the backyard view. However, there is one technical step that many buyers overlook: The property survey.

While a survey isn’t always required by a lender, skipping it can lead to expensive headaches down the road.

What does a survey actually do? A survey is a professional drawing of your property that identifies the exact legal boundaries of your land. It reveals more than just where your yard ends; it uncovers “hidden” issues that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

What are the risks of skipping a survey? We recently worked with sellers who decided not to get a survey when they originally purchased their home. They assumed everything was fine until they went to sell.

The new buyer’s survey revealed two issues:

1. Fence encroachments. A neighbor’s fence or shed was sitting directly on the property.

2. Undisclosed easement. Legal rights held by others to use a portion of the land, like utility companies or shared driveways.

Because these weren’t caught during the previous purchase, we had to bring in attorneys and a survey company to clear the title. This led to a complicated process and significant delays for the closing.

That’s why I always tell our team: when working with buyers, encourage them to get a survey to ensure that:

● You know exactly what you own. No guessing where the property line sits.

● You protect your future sale. You won’t be surprised by boundary issues when it’s time for you to put the house back on the market.

● You have peace of mind. You can build that new deck or fence with total confidence.

Surveys are a big deal, and they are one of the best ways to protect your financial risk. Our goal is to ensure your transaction is transparent and that you are protected from unnecessary legal or financial hurdles.

If you have any questions about how to order a survey or what to look for in a property report, reach out to us at (919) 891-3612 or Cynthia@cqrealtygroup.com. We are here to help.

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