4 Ways To Reduce The Cost Of Your ALTA Survey

09/15/2026 10:14 AM Mark Goodman

An ALTA survey is often required if you’re hoping to secure a loan or title insurance when purchasing commercial property. The cost of that ALTA survey will depend on a number of different factors, only some of which you can control. In today’s blog, we explore some of those controllable factors and explain how you can work to lower the cost of your ALTA survey when buying commercial property.

Some of the costs associated with an ALTA survey will remain unchanged despite efforts on your end, but there are some things you can do that could serve to lower the cost of the survey. If you’re trying to keep costs down, here’s what we recommend:

Give Yourself Time - If you hope to close in 30 days, it’s likely going to be more expensive to find someone to conduct an ALTA survey on short notice. Try to schedule one as soon as possible once you have an accepted offer, and know that your closing date may impact the cost of completing the survey, especially if you are hoping to close sooner rather than later.
Clean Up Boundaries - Ask the seller if they would be willing to clean up some of the vegetation along the boundaries of the property, especially if overgrowth appears to be stretching onto a neighbor’s property. Not only can this clear up some encroachments, but it makes it much easier for clear boundary pictures to be taken, especially if drones will be used to take aerial photos.
Look Into Old Surveys - If the property has changed hands recently and a company conducted an ALTA survey on the land in the last decade, see if you can get your hands on that survey and consider working with the same company that conducted that survey. They will have familiarity with the land and their survey, and they should be able to complete the survey faster than someone who is new to the property. If the property just recently changed hands or you’re refinancing, you may be able to avoid an ALTA survey altogether by having a previous survey recertified by the original surveyor. Talk to your title company about this option if there was a very recent ALTA survey associated with the property.
Get Multiple Quotes - Like almost anything in life, you may be able to get a better price if you shop around. Again, this is easier if you give yourself plenty of time to get the survey completed. Reach out to a few different companies and give them your information and ask for a ballpark quote to conduct the ALTA survey. There’s a good chance that the first surveyor you contact is not the cheapest, so shop around, check reviews and get quotes to get matched up with the right surveyor at the right price point.

For more information about saving money on an ALTA survey, or for assistance with your next commercial purchase, connect with the team at Commercial Partners today at (612) 337-2470.