Buying a piece of land—just a handshake deal or paperwork essential?

We deal with this all the time, and honestly, surveys are usually worth every penny. Prices can vary quite a bit depending on your location and the size of the property, but typically they're not outrageous—especially compared to potential legal fees down the road. Had a client once who skipped it to save a few hundred bucks...ended up costing thousands later when they had to move a driveway. Lesson learned the hard way, lol. Better safe than sorry, imo.

Couldn't agree more on the survey point. A handshake might seem fine when you're friendly with someone, but trust me, things can get messy fast. Had neighbors once who agreed verbally on a fence line, then years later new owners moved in and disputed it—turned into a huge headache for everyone involved. Paperwork might feel like overkill at first, but it's your safety net if anything goes sideways...and eventually, something usually does. Better to have it and not need it than regret skipping it later.

I get your point, but honestly, paperwork doesn't always guarantee smooth sailing either. Bought my land with full surveys and contracts, yet still ended up with boundary confusion because the original survey had mistakes. Took months to sort out. Sometimes even the best paperwork doesn't save you from headaches... it's more about making sure everything's accurate from the start rather than just having documents on hand.

Had a similar experience once—client had all the paperwork done, but turns out the original surveyor missed an old easement. Took forever to untangle. You're right, accuracy upfront matters more than just ticking boxes on documents... learned that one the hard way myself.

Went through something similar myself a few years back. Thought I had everything squared away—survey done, paperwork signed—but turns out the boundary lines weren't quite accurate. Neighbor and I ended up in a lengthy back-and-forth to sort it out. Handshake agreements sound nice in theory, but even formal paperwork can miss details if you're not careful. Definitely taught me to double-check everything upfront, even if it seems tedious at the time...