The Certificate of Location or Survey
The lawyer or notary handling the sale of your home will require an up-to-date certificate of location, also known as a property survey and a real property report, in order to close the sale.
Prepared by a qualified surveyor, the certificate of location:
- Specifies the exact size and location of your property
- Specifies the size of the building and the type of structure
- Notes conformity with local zoning regulations and by-laws
- Includes drawings of exterior and (sometimes) interior ground plans
In addition, the certificate of location must accurately record any structural changes made while you've owned the property, including additions, garages, fences, pools, decks-even the relocation of a storage shed. (Certain items falling under a predetermined height, such as landscaping, are exempt.)
If you've made no improvements to the property, the existing survey generally remains in effect indefinitely. In some provinces, however, surveys must be updated routinely.
Who's responsible for obtaining the certificate of location?
It is usually the seller's responsibility to provide an up-to-date certificate of location. In some jurisdictions, however, the buyer pays the cost if a new certificate is necessary. Ask your real estate agent about the usual practice in your province, and be sure that the offer to purchase specifies who will pay.
In fact, you and your buyer should be as specific as possible about what is and isn't included in the closing price. For help with this, use our What's Included/What's Not Checklist.
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