Should You Get a Property Survey When Buying in New Jersey?

A survey costs a few hundred dollars—but it can save you from thousands in boundary disputes, easement problems, and encroachment issues that title insurance won't cover.

If you're buying a home in New Jersey, one question that often comes up is: "Do I need a property survey?"

A survey is a professional drawing that shows your property boundaries, structures, fences, driveways, and easements. While not always required, it's one of the best ways to protect yourself from surprises—and it often reveals issues that title insurance won't cover.

Here's what buyers should know before closing.

What a Property Survey Shows

A licensed surveyor creates a detailed map of your lot. It typically identifies:

Exact property boundaries – The precise lines that define your lot.

Location of structures – Your home, garage, shed, fences, and driveways.

Easements – Rights granted to utility companies or neighbors (for example, shared driveways or utility access).

Encroachments – When a structure crosses property lines (for example, if your neighbor's driveway or fence is on your land—or yours is on theirs).

Are Surveys Covered by Title Insurance?

This is where many buyers get confused.

Title insurance policies do not automatically cover survey-related issues like boundary disputes, easements, or encroachments.

If no survey is ordered, these issues remain outside the protection of your title policy. You could discover after closing that your driveway is actually on your neighbor's property, or that an easement prevents you from building a fence.

If you order a survey and provide it to the title company, they can review it and add coverage for those items. This is called a "survey exception removal" or "survey endorsement."

This is your chance to identify problems before closing—when you still have leverage to go back to the seller and ask for corrections.

Bottom line: Title companies don't require a survey, but they strongly recommend it because it reveals issues that could otherwise become your problem after closing.

How to Order a Survey

The process is simple:

Your agent or attorney sends an email request along with your purchase contract to the title company.

The title company orders the survey from a licensed surveyor in the county where the property is located.

You receive the survey before closing so you can review it with your attorney and address any issues.

Timeline for Surveys

Surveys typically do not delay closing.

Most surveyors schedule based on your closing date so the survey is as current as possible.

Typical turnaround: 1–2 weeks, depending on property size and complexity.

This timing ensures the survey reflects the latest conditions—for example, if fences were recently moved or new structures were added.

Costs of a Property Survey in NJ

Survey costs vary by property size and complexity:

Typical lot (around 1 acre): $700–$800

Larger properties: Prices increase with acreage. For example, a 2-acre property will cost more than a standard lot.

Local surveyors may charge less if they've recently worked in your neighborhood, since they already have data on file.

Buyers can always request a quote in advance to confirm it fits their budget.

Why a Survey Is Worth It

Protects your property rights – Know your true boundaries and avoid disputes with neighbors.

Reveals surprises before closing – Easements, encroachments, or structures crossing lines that could cost you thousands to resolve later.

Supports future projects – You'll need a survey for adding fences, pools, sheds, or additions. Getting one now saves you from ordering it later.

Adds title insurance coverage – If purchased before closing, the title insurance company can insure against survey-related issues (with a survey endorsement).

Gives you leverage during negotiation – If the survey reveals problems, you can ask the seller to fix them or credit you before closing.

The Bottome Line

A property survey isn’t always required in New Jersey, but it’s often worth the investment. For a few hundred dollars, you can avoid buying hidden problems and gain leverage to resolve issues before closing.