Should I ask for a property survey as a condition of my Ontario offer?

A survey shows the exact boundaries of a property, the location of structures on it relative to those boundaries, and any encroachments by or onto neighbouring properties. In older Ontario neighbourhoods, surveys may be decades out of date or unavailable entirely.

Whether you need a survey condition depends on the property and your risk tolerance. For older urban or suburban homes, title insurance (which most Ontario buyers obtain) generally provides coverage for survey-related issues such as encroachments and boundary discrepancies, reducing the practical need for a current survey. However, for rural land, large lots, properties with unclear boundaries, or any situation where the lot lines really matter to your intended use, a current survey is more important.

If you want a survey, you can include a condition requiring the seller to provide one, or you can commission your own. Sellers do not always have a current survey and may be unwilling or unable to provide one. Your real estate lawyer can advise on whether title insurance adequately addresses your survey concerns or whether obtaining a new survey is worth the cost for your specific purchase.