Do you need a survey if you have title insurance?

A surveyor's real property report shows the legal boundaries, the position of the house, fences, additions and any encroachments. Title insurance, by contrast, insures you against loss from certain boundary and encroachment problems, but it does not tell you where your property ends.

For most straightforward purchases, lenders accept title insurance instead of requiring a new survey. That is why surveys have become less common.

Order one anyway if you plan to build a fence, addition, pool or garage, if a neighbour's structure appears close to the line, or if the lot shape is unusual. Knowing the boundary before you spend money is far cheaper than a dispute afterward.