Why Commercial Buyers Should Verify Legal Access With Surveys
"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
Why Commercial Buyers Should Never Assume Access Is “Good Enough”
In Texas commercial real estate, access is often treated like an afterthought. If there’s a driveway and cars are coming and going, most buyers assume everything is fine.
That assumption can get expensive.
Physical access and legal access are not the same
Just because people use a driveway doesn’t mean they have the legal right to use it.
Many commercial properties rely on:
Informal agreements
Old habits
Verbal understandings
Access that was never properly documented
A survey is what separates convenience from legal reality.
Why access problems show up late
Access issues often stay hidden until:
A lender reviews the deal
A title company issues exceptions
A neighbor objects
A permit application is filed
At that point, timelines are tight and options are limited.
Shared driveways create hidden risk
Shared access can work — but only if it’s clearly documented.
Surveys reveal:
Who owns the driveway
Who has rights to use it
Whether access is permanent or temporary
If future changes could restrict it
Without clarity, shared access can become a legal and operational mess.
Access affects value more than people realize
Poor or uncertain access can:
Kill financing
Reduce appraised value
Limit tenant types
Block redevelopment
Create ongoing disputes
All of that starts with understanding the site — not assuming.
Bottom line
If access isn’t clearly defined, it isn’t secure.
A commercial land survey confirms not just where you can drive, but whether you’re legally allowed to.
At South Texas Surveying, we help Texas commercial buyers verify access early — so access questions don’t become closing-day problems.
