"Texas, often referred to as the Lone Star State, is a thriving hub for economic growth and innovation, making it an attractive destination for commercial real estate investment." - Chris Evans

What Happens When a Commercial Deal Skips a Survey

Every so often, a commercial buyer tries to move fast by skipping the survey.
Sometimes it’s to save time.
Sometimes it’s to save money.

Almost every time, it costs them more later.

Skipping a survey doesn’t skip the risk

The risks don’t disappear just because a survey wasn’t ordered. They just stay hidden.

That means:

• Encroachments go undiscovered

• Access issues stay assumed

• Easements remain misunderstood

• Drainage problems surface during construction

• Title coverage stays limited

The problems usually show up later

When survey issues are skipped, they tend to appear at the worst possible moment:

• During refinancing

• When applying for permits

• When expanding the site

• When selling the property

• When a neighbor raises a concern

At that point, leverage is gone.

Title insurance won’t always save you

Many buyers assume title insurance will cover survey-related issues. Often, it won’t — especially if no survey was provided at closing.

Without a survey:

• Title exceptions stay broad

• Coverage gaps remain

• Claims become harder to support

Why “it worked last time” isn’t a strategy

Just because a previous owner skipped a survey doesn’t mean it was safe — it just means the problems haven’t surfaced yet.

Commercial real estate has a long memory.

Bottom line

Skipping a survey is like skipping an inspection on a building you plan to own for decades. You might get lucky — but luck isn’t a strategy.

At South Texas Surveying, we help Texas commercial buyers avoid hidden problems by uncovering the truth about a property before those problems become expensive.