Buying, selling and closing0 answersAI answer
Is the survey usually paid by the buyer or the seller?
Asked October 25, 2026
AI answer · not yet verified by a surveyor
It depends on local custom and on what your contract says.
- Contract terms: the purchase agreement can assign the survey cost to either side. This is negotiable.
- Local custom: in some areas the buyer typically pays, because the survey protects the buyer and lender. In others, sellers often provide one.
- Lender requirements: if the lender requires a survey, it's commonly part of the buyer's closing costs.
Survey prices vary widely. They depend on lot size, terrain, records and the type of survey [1].
Ask your agent or closing attorney what's standard in your county, and make sure the contract states who orders the survey and who it's certified to [2].
General information only. Answers here are not a survey or legal advice, and no one here can tell you where your boundary is. For your property, hire a licensed land surveyor in your state; for legal questions, a real-estate attorney.