Protecting Property Lines

kbarrett · Mar 27, 2002

Very good idea!

Thank you

heehaw · Mar 27, 2002

if it weren't for adverse possession, if someone came up with proof that someone that owned your land 100 years ago had stolen the property somehow, you could loose your land, of course part of that is what title insurance is for, but i doubt anyone out there has title insurance to cover yourself, we only tend to get it when we get a loan to protect the lender.
heehaw

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2002

...take a picture of the sign...

Another way to memorialize some events is have the front page of the current newspaper in the picture {on the cameras that lack date}...

Wal · Mar 28, 2002

Garry,

Just to play "devils advocate", it would only take someone a minute or so to change the date in their camera to anything they want and then take the picture. I don't know how the date thing would hold up as "proof". I like the newspaper headline idea.

Golfgar4 · Mar 28, 2002

I don't know how the date thing would hold up as "proof".

You're right about "fixing" the camera, and using the newspaper is also a great idea. We haven't had any problems with using the dated photos, although we haven't had to use them in court yet. We have had a number of claims that were filed dropped once we produced the photos, and the claimant's attorneys never even questioned their authenticity.

Inspector507 · Mar 28, 2002

You're right Wal about changing the date on the camera, but thinking along those lines, I could buy a newspaper today and not take a picture of it until 5 mins before I go to court in 5 years.

bmabe · Mar 28, 2002

Last summer the house next door in suburban North NJ was purchased by a (barely) thirtyish architect who had plans to remodel/add to his 60 year old dutch colonial. I was working in my back yard on a Sunday afternoon in the Fall and he came over to mention that his bank wanted him to rebuild the steps going down from front yard to back yard (almost 8 foot lower). "Those aren't your steps to rebuild - they're on my property." I told him. So we found his recently installed survey markers, and sure enough, the steps and all the shrubs and hemlocks are on MY side. He also told me he was having tree service in to remove some trees the end of the week. To be safe, I went out and marked all my trees with orange tape - even those clearly on my property by 15 feet.

The following Tuesday, no one home except my college-age daughter - his tree service is removing trees in his backyard AND the hemlocks on my side. My daughter ran out of the house and yelled "You're cutting down our trees!" But between chainsaw noise and non-English speaking workers they cut down 6.

Spoke to neighbor, sent him and tree service a letter advising that he (they) will need to replace trees. Called fence company and pulled permit at Boro Hall. My wife thinks he did it on purpose. I firmly believe it was stupidity and blatant lack of care by the contractor.

So it happens in suburbia too. I knew I had to be wary of encroachment on my upstate NY property where the lines are not well marked and there's a chance that a neighbor or two might cut lumber on my property. But following this and Dan McCarty's thread on Trespassers and Cable Gates, I'm going to add more posted signs and "ride the lines" more frequently.

Sorry for the rant.

Barry Mabery

Golfgar4 · Mar 28, 2002

...I could buy a newspaper today and not take a picture of it until 5 mins before I go to court in 5 years.

I can barely find where I left my keys 5 minutes ago, let alone 5 years ago /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif!!

Don't get me wrong, I think you're right. There are some really strange people out there that would probably do that. But I have to believe that it is reflective of a pretty cynical attitude - to plan that far in advance, or even 1 year from now, in an effort to protect their own property. And what happens if they get caught doing it? Does that lend substance to the claims of the other person? IMHO, it sounds to me like a person would be better off taking their chances with the legitimate photos.

Egon · Mar 28, 2002

Safest would be to have it witnessed and signed by a Notary.

Egon

Inspector507 · Mar 28, 2002

Thats true Golfgar,
I was just looking at how things seem to be nowadays. Could happen. At my place, it was strange when I met my neighbor, he can driving across my property in his truck. Just to tell me that he had plowed and disced my garden that morning. So now I drive my tractor over to see him. They cut about 5' of my yard each time, and I cut a few feet into his everytime. Guess we don't care where the property line is. I go get turnips out of his garden and he picks some fruit when he wants. He wants to get it "before it went bad or got ate by the birds". Been there almost 3 years and never have had any problems with him.