Property Survey VS. a Mortgage Inspection Report

What's the difference between a property survey and a mortgage inspection report?

I frequently get phone calls from potential clients who need to define their property's bounds for various reasons. Sometimes it is for a new fence, while other times, the boundary survey is a part of a site plan survey for design.

There seems to be a general misperception of what value a property survey brings to a land or homeowner vs. that of a mortgage inspection report/certificate. Of course, the price of any good or service we purchase is always a factor in that ultimate decision. However, it's always a good idea to understand what value will be delivered for the purchase.

Surveyors

In Oklahoma, a Mortgage Inspection Report Varies Greatly From a Boundary Survey...

In many residential property transactions the title insurers and mortgage lenders require a mortgage inspection report to be completed. According to Oklahoma Administrative Code Section 245:15-13-4 - a Mortgage Inspection Report is not a land or boundary survey plat, and it is not to be relied upon for the establishment of fence, building or other future improvement lines. The accompanying sketch is a true representation of the conditions that were found at the time of the inspection, and the linear and angular values shown on the sketch, if any, are based on record or deed information and have not been verified unless noted. A mortgage inspection report has many uses; however, it's essential to remember that it's not a boundary or property survey.
What does all that mean, and why should I care?
Each state has its minimum standards for professional land surveyors to adhere to. Oklahoma's minimum surveying standards give specific technical standards such as research requirements, the accuracy of survey measurements, and guidance on plat details, among other things. These requirements don't specifically apply to mortgage inspection certificates. If you're making improvements to your property, the mortgage inspection report won't give you the data you need to complete your project.

A boundary survey certified by a licensed land surveyor will give you more details about your property...

A property survey involves research, planning, fieldwork, and the final review of a plat. The land surveyor will adhere to the minimum standards set forth by the State of Oklahoma to ensure you receive a high-quality product. On boundary surveys that I complete, we utilize a crew of two trained professionals with upwards of $100,000 in equipment to be confident that we meet the minimum standards during field data collection.
What does a plat look like?

Each company and surveyor has their own style of conveying what they find in the record deeds, fieldwork, and their professional opinions. However; the minimum standards will dictate what has to be on the plat. These details will likely not be on a mortgage inspection certificate and may be valuable to the client for constructing fences or completing improvements on their property.

On my plats, I try to include as many details as possible, without overwhelming the reader. I also try to ensure that the next surveyor that utilizes my plat can understand my decision-making process.

I've included some plat examples below:
Images are slightly blurred, but will give you an idea of what to expect.

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Please fill out the form below and provide as much detail regarding questions, and or projects as you can.

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Parcel Address / Survey Location
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.