Buying a commercial property often moves fast. You find a good location, review the numbers, and move toward closing. Then the survey comes in, and that’s where things shift.

Many buyers order an ALTA survey because a lender or title company asks for it. That part is normal. What gets missed is this: the real value sits in the Table A items. Those choices decide how much detail you see before you sign anything.

Pick the right ones, and you catch problems early. Skip the wrong ones, and issues show up when it’s too late to fix them easily.

Why Table A Items Matter More Than People Think

An ALTA survey comes with a base scope. That covers the basics. Table A is where you add detail based on your deal.

Here’s the catch. Many buyers treat Table A like a checklist. They either select everything or let someone else decide. Both approaches cause problems.

Commercial properties often sit near other buildings, shared access points, or older developments. That creates more chances for small issues that turn into big ones.

A missing detail can delay closing. It can also change how you use the property after you buy it.

Flood Zone Details Can Change the Whole Deal

South Florida deals always come back to water. That’s why flood zone classification matters so much.

When you include this Table A item, you see if the property sits in a flood zone. That affects insurance costs right away. It can also affect financing.

Some buyers skip this because they assume they already know. That assumption costs money later.

If you plan to develop or improve the site, flood data matters even more. It affects design, permits, and long-term risk.

Zoning and Setbacks Control What You Can Build

Zoning looks simple on paper. In reality, it limits what you can do.

Table A zoning items show:

• Property classification
• Building setbacks
• Use restrictions

These details matter before you close, not after.

A buyer might plan to expand a building or add parking. Then the survey shows setback limits that block those plans.

Now the numbers change. The deal still closes sometimes, but not in the way the buyer expected.

Parking and Access Are Bigger Than They Look

Commercial buyers focus on income. Tenants focus on access.

That’s why parking count and layout matter. This Table A item confirms how many spaces exist and how they are arranged.

Some properties look fine during a walkthrough. Then the survey shows fewer usable spaces than expected.

Access also matters. Driveways, shared entrances, and traffic flow can affect daily use. If access depends on a neighboring property, you need to know that before closing.

Utilities Can Limit What You Build

Utilities sit above ground and below ground. Both matter.

Observed utilities show visible lines and structures. Subsurface utility data goes deeper. It shows what sits below the surface.

This matters for redevelopment. You might plan to expand or build new structures. Then you find utility lines running through the exact spot you need.

Moving utilities costs money. It also takes time. That can delay projects or force redesigns.

Site Improvements Don’t Always Match the Records

Buildings, pavement, and other features should match official records. Sometimes they don’t.

Table A items that cover site improvements help confirm what’s actually on the property.

You might see:

• Structures built slightly off location
• Additions that were never recorded
• Layout changes over time

These issues don’t always stop a deal. They do raise questions. Title companies and lenders want clear answers before moving forward.

Encroachments Are One of the Biggest Risks

This is where many deals get uncomfortable.

Encroachments happen when something crosses a property line. It could be a fence, a wall, or even part of a building.

Table A items that show evidence of use by others bring these issues to light.

Sometimes a neighboring property uses part of the land. Other times, shared use has been going on for years without formal agreements.

Fixing this can take time. It can also involve legal steps. Buyers who catch this early have more options.

Boundary Marking Removes Guesswork

Property lines on paper are not always clear in the field.

That’s why monument placement matters. It marks the corners of the property on the ground.

This helps during inspections and planning. It also helps avoid confusion with neighboring properties.

Buyers often overlook this, especially on smaller sites. Then questions come up later when work begins.

Not Every Table A Item Makes Sense for Every Deal

More detail sounds helpful. In practice, it can slow things down.

Each added item requires more fieldwork or research. That increases cost and extends the timeline.

The goal is not to select everything. The goal is to select what fits your plan.

If you plan to hold the property as-is, you may need fewer items. If you plan to redevelop, you need more detail.

That decision should happen early, not after the survey starts.

How Table A Choices Affect Closing

Survey timelines matter in commercial deals.

More Table A items mean:

• More time in the field
• More data to review
• More coordination with other parties

If the survey runs late, closing can get pushed. That creates pressure for everyone involved.

Buyers who define the scope early avoid that situation. They know what they’re getting and when they’ll get it.

Common Mistakes Buyers Make

Some patterns show up again and again.

Buyers often let others choose the Table A items without review. That leads to missing details.

Others skip key items to save money. Then they deal with bigger costs later.

Some assume the standard ALTA survey covers everything. It doesn’t.

The survey only shows what you ask for. Nothing more.

For a free land surveying quote, call us at (954) 519-7803 or send us a message by going here.

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