An improvement location certificate (ILC) is another method of describing and approximately locating property, and is often required by lenders and insurance companies. It offers certain reasonable assurances regarding potential boundary or encroachment problems that may affect their interests. It also illustrates the location of improvements and conditions of the property. However, it is based on assumptions regarding boundary location and is not a precise survey. An ILC is typically used in the single-family residential transactions for property located within a subdivision. It is a method of depicting property to which most real estate licensees will have the most exposure. A licensee should be familiar with the differences between land and improvement surveys, and an ILC.

An ILC is:

1. a representation of boundaries and improvements based on a surveyor's general knowledge in a given area.
2. a depiction of the property boundaries showing the size and shape of a parcel which is based on the legal description provided in the warranty deed.
3. a document signed and sealed by a professional land surveyor who has certain professional responsibilities for its accuracy.
4. a representation of the location of improvements, encroachments and easements based on their relationship to a reasonable estimate of the location of property lines.

An ILC is not:

1. a survey.
2. evidence of exact boundary location.
3. a precise property corner locator.
4. to be legally relied upon for locations of property lines or future improvements.

Sometimes an ILC will indicate a possible encroachment or other evidence of a boundary dispute. In this case, a true survey (i.e., improvement survey plat or land survey plat) would be required to clarify or resolve any discrepancies. A real estate licensee should never represent that an improvement location certificate is a survey.