What is a property survey?

A property survey is a professional measurement and mapping of a parcel of land that precisely establishes its boundaries, dimensions, and physical features. A licensed surveyor conducts the survey and produces a drawing that shows the exact location of property lines, structures, easements, encroachments, and other relevant features. In New York, lenders often require a current survey as part of the mortgage process, and title insurers use it to identify any boundary-related issues.

In the Western Catskills, property surveys are not merely a formality — they are often essential for understanding exactly what you are buying. Many rural properties in Delaware, Otsego, Greene, and Ulster counties have not been formally surveyed in decades, and older deed descriptions may use metes and bounds language referencing stone walls, trees, or stream beds that have since changed. Large parcels may have ambiguous boundaries or long-standing but unrecorded agreements with neighbors. A current survey eliminates uncertainty and provides buyers with a clear, accurate picture of their property. Given the significance of land in the rural Catskill lifestyle, this is not a step to skip.