You do not automatically need a new survey for every Texas house sale. An existing survey may be usable if the contract allows it and the title company accepts the survey and accompanying documentation. Missing records, changes to the property, or acceptance requirements can make a new survey necessary. The signed agreement determines the parties’ responsibilities.
For Fort Worth and DFW homeowners, finding old closing paperwork early can prevent a rushed search later. StrykCam Real Estate Investors is based in Springtown, Texas. Our direct-sale process still includes the documentation needed to complete the agreed closing.
When can a seller use an existing property survey?
An existing survey is a starting point, not automatic approval. Send the complete document to the closing company and ask whether it can be accepted for this transaction. The property’s current condition, the survey’s contents, required supporting forms, and any lender requirements can affect that decision. Do this before the contract’s delivery deadline.
The Texas REALTORS’ survey FAQ explains issues that arise when an existing survey is provided and how the related affidavit documents changes. Ask the title company what it needs instead of deciding that a survey is usable solely because you used it when you bought the house.
What are the T-47 affidavit and T-47.1 declaration?
These forms provide information about the property in connection with an existing survey. They do not create a new survey or erase changes that occurred after the old one. Complete the applicable form truthfully and ask the closing company which version it needs. The T-47.1 declaration can be used instead of the notarized T-47 affidavit where accepted under the relevant rules.
The Texas Department of Insurance’s title insurance procedural rules, including P-2, address use of an existing survey and the T-47.1 alternative. An affidavit needs notarization; the declaration is an unsworn declaration. Neither should be signed with statements you cannot support.
Which property changes should I mention?
Tell the closing company about additions, pools, new structures, moved fences, and other changes that may affect the survey. The question is whether the old drawing and supporting statements accurately describe what exists now. A buyer accepting repair needs does not establish that an outdated survey will satisfy the title company’s requirements.
- Find the full survey, not just a cropped photograph.
- List construction and boundary changes since it was prepared.
- Gather any related plans or permits already in your records.
- Ask whether another survey is needed for the proposed coverage.
- Confirm the deadline and the party responsible for ordering it.
If the house also has repair issues, see our guide to selling a Fort Worth house that needs repairs. Repair decisions and survey acceptance are different parts of preparing the sale.
Who pays if a new survey is needed?
The agreement determines who must provide the survey and who pays in the circumstances it describes. A contract can treat failure to deliver an existing survey differently from the title company’s rejection of a timely delivered survey. Read the selected provision and filled-in terms before assuming the buyer always pays because the purchase is cash.
Ask for a surveyor’s actual quote if a new survey is required. Lot size, property characteristics, and the requested work can affect the job. A general price range found online is not a substitute for a quote tied to your address. Compare that expense with the other deductions in your proposed settlement figures.
Our Texas title commitment checklist helps organize the related closing requirements. Check whether the survey question is a separate task or tied to an outstanding title item.
Texas seller survey FAQs
Is a tax appraisal map the same as a survey?
No. Do not substitute an appraisal-district image or online parcel map for the survey required by your agreement. Send the document you actually have to the title company and ask whether it qualifies. If you cannot locate a survey, tell the closing team promptly so the appropriate next step can be arranged.
Does an old survey expire after a fixed number of years?
Do not assume one age limit applies to every transaction. Acceptance depends on the survey, changes to the property, and the parties’ requirements. A newer document can still be unsuitable if conditions changed, while an older survey may be accepted with appropriate documentation. Let the closing company review it.
Does a cash buyer mean no survey is needed?
No. Removing a lender from the buyer’s side does not decide the survey provision in the contract or the title company’s coverage requirements. Ask the buyer and closing team what they require and put the agreement in writing. Treat the survey question as part of the sale terms, not a verbal assumption.
Find the paperwork before you choose a closing date
Tell StrykCam about your house and available records. Having the survey question answered early can help you plan a realistic closing. This article provides general information; the signed contract and your closing professionals determine the requirements for your sale.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked October 7, 2026.
