The Challenge
After going under contract on a property in Bremerton, our client wanted an ALTA survey to clearly define the property intended for purchase. When we delivered the first draft of our survey work, alarm bells went off.
The client and the buyer were concerned that the property was much smaller than anticipated, and we later discovered that there were 30 feet missed on the north side of the lot. The client and seller both said, “The lot doesn’t look like it’s shown on the assessor’s map.” This is a comment we typically dismiss because these maps often vary. After determining our work was correct, we threw this back into the title’s court. They discovered that the 255-foot boundary line length had been changed or misread, displaying as 225 on the title. They corrected the error and we issued a new drawing. The deal closed with both parties relieved.
The Results
- Helped identify another possible scrivener’s 30’ discrepancy
- Rare instance of aerial imagery on the assessor’s page more closely resembling final survey
- Most surveys match what assessors show on their aerials, but can vary significantly and are no substitute for a physical survey of the property
A great example of how ALTA surveys uncover discrepancies when purchasing commercial property.
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