An appraisal addresses value, a home inspection examines physical condition, and a boundary survey locates the property's boundaries and relevant physical evidence. Their observations may overlap, but their assignments and conclusions are different. Ordering one does not automatically answer the other two questions.

Worked example: A buyer agrees to pay $425,000 for a house. The lender's appraisal concludes that the property's market value is $415,000 under the appraisal's stated assumptions. That creates a valuation and financing issue. It does not establish whether the roof is watertight or where the legal boundary lies.

The buyer's independent inspector then reports deteriorated roof flashing and recommends further evaluation. That is condition evidence. The report does not decide the property's market value, guarantee that every hidden defect has been found or replace a specialist assessment when one is recommended. CFPB's home-inspection guidance expressly separates inspection from appraisal.

Finally, a boundary survey shows that a fence lies two feet beyond the surveyed boundary. That is location evidence requiring further review of the records and relevant rights; the line on the survey does not by itself decide every ownership dispute. Florida's boundary-survey requirements address records research, field evidence, boundary determination and discrepancies.

Pitfall: A satisfactory value conclusion is not a clean bill of physical health, and an inspector's comment about a fence is not a boundary determination. Likewise, a survey is not a substitute for a title search. Match the unanswered question to the appropriate professional and review the actual scope of work.

Any renegotiation or cancellation rights depend on the purchase contract and its deadlines, not merely on receiving an unfavorable report.

Start with the Chapter 17 appraisal guide and Chapter 17 practice questions.