Sometimes it's worth it to hire a land surveyor

[MoKelly]

I have to chuckle reading.

I have 80 acres and my adjoining neighbor has 60 acres. Combined, that’s 140 acres of land. Lots of land.

Most of both is farmed. There is 10 or so acres along a river that is mostly trees. You cannot see this area from the houses. You cannot see anyone else’s houses.

About 8 years ago, my wife and I cleared a 20 foot wide path to the river where there is a nice gravel bar and flat area. We ride the ATV’s there. It’s pleasant there as it’s almost 100% shaded and you can easily swim in the river.

My neighbor felt we built the path on his property. There were lot marker posts already there and I was at least 100 feet away. I just picked the flattest area to make the path.

Neighbor thought “someone” moved the lot posts. I said he can use the path and area anytime, but I certainly didn’t move the posts. Besides, there is more area here than either will ever use.

He decided to get a survey. $1200.

Well, turns out the original lot markers were in the right spot. No one had moved the markers.

So, he spent $1200 to have someone re-paint red on the already existing posts. Huh.

MoKelly

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I have to chuckle reading.

I have 80 acres and my adjoining neighbor has 60 acres. Combined, that’s 140 acres of land. Lots of land.

Most of both is farmed. There is 10 or so acres along a river that is mostly trees. You cannot see this area from the houses. You cannot see anyone else’s houses.

About 8 years ago, my wife and I cleared a 20 foot wide path to the river where there is a nice gravel bar and flat area. We ride the ATV’s there. It’s pleasant there as it’s almost 100% shaded and you can easily swim in the river.

My neighbor felt we built the path on his property. There were lot marker posts already there and I was at least 100 feet away. I just picked the flattest area to make the path.

Neighbor thought “someone” moved the lot posts. I said he can use the path and area anytime, but I certainly didn’t move the posts. Besides, there is more area here than either will ever use.

He decided to get a survey. $1200.

Well, turns out the original lot markers were in the right spot. No one had moved the markers.

So, he spent $1200 to have someone re-paint red on the already existing posts. Huh.

MoKelly

When we had our place surveyed shortly after closing, my one and only neighbor accused the surveyor of "not being smart enough to read a tape measure"; boy, I thought I was gonna have to pull the surveyor off him. Anyway, he had another surveyor come out, and just like you wasted his money to find out he was wrong. Then he blamed me for stealing "his land" and didn't speak to me again. Thank God he sold and moved a year ago.

 

[two_bit_score]

It was a nearby property. About 50 years ago when it was subdivided, the properties (hilly) were measured, not surveyed. Surveys showed the measured markers were about 20-30 feet off. I asked the realtor the question about a survey being required by anyone, as new buyers may not be getting what was marked.

Bruce

As long as you are satisfied.

 

[Alan W.]

When I was a construction super there was a builder that informed me our house was too close to his lot.
The arrogant sob then said I would have to fix the problem because it devalued his house.
It was hilarious to see him go from in my face to hat in hand when I told him the lot line had a dog leg in it. He had assumed it was straight. Since he was buying a large number of lots from the company I worked for I helped him get a variance.


My grandfather and great aunt had a boundary war going on for years.
When I inherited my great aunts property it was funny to see that my grandfather had the fence where it was suppose to be except for a couple of feet swing in a brushy area.

 

[sandman2234]

Survey, or mortgage inspection? The first is a lot more detailed, while the latter merely examines what evidence is there and reports obvious problems.

Well, they calls it a survey and it has property lines and stake locations and maybe even a building sometimes. Required by the mortgage company, kind of like title insurance, its just a good idea!
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

That is the most common routine.

Maybe the mortgage companies here need to know where it is?
David from jax

 

[marhar]

I work for a forest management company with land all over the northern half of Maine. This includes several thousand miles of property lines varying from newly spotted and painted to non-existent. I consider myself pretty good about finding old lines and knowing when they are in the right place... I won't honor an old line if I'm not confident it's right.

A couple of months ago an abutter contacted us and said that he didn't feel our line was in the right place. The forester in charge went out and visited him but it appeared he was basing his opinion merely on the tax maps... which are notoriously inaccurate. Still, we agreed to cost share a survey before we ever planned harvest activity. Recently I was reading deeds while helping decide if another tract in that same town needed a survey (it does) and started perusing his. It took me several days of reading until my eyes crossed as there were so many problems with his description; his land had been sold several times in the last 80 years there were originally 3 different parcels combined to one; and every time a transfer was done a bit more was left out of the description. Finally though I realised that what he was saying was right and went out for a site visit in hopes of a quick remedy. (I even brought my axe and paint.) As soon as I saw the post we called our corner I realised that I need to call in the cavalry- AKA a licensed surveyor. That shade of orange paint hasn't even been made in almost 50 years; it's been that long since the lines were right. It wouldn't surprise me if they've been wrong since the original lot was carved out just after WWII. We had no way of knowing, as we were just going by old, vintage evidence.

Everybody can tell you where your lines are; your neighbor, the previous owner, the realtor; yet if you aren't proficient at reading deeds, a good surveyor is the best person to talk to.

I had a property line issue with a neighbor; we were both amicable working together. After defining the line and swapping some land at the rear of the tracts we agreed to have the surveyor place steel fence post every 50(+/-) feet so we would always know where the line was.

BTW the other landowner had built a shed and part of it was on my property. Since they made the error they insisted on paying for the surveyor. (initially we had agreed to split the cost)

 

[Jstpssng]

I had a property line issue with a neighbor; we were both amicable working together. After defining the line and swapping some land at the rear of the tracts we agreed to have the surveyor place steel fence post every 50(+/-) feet so we would always know where the line was.

BTW the other landowner had built a shed and part of it was on my property. Since they made the error they insisted on paying for the surveyor. (initially we had agreed to split the cost)

That's a good neighbor. It's always better when you can discuss things first and develop a mutually agreeable plan of action

 

[two_bit_score]

Well, they calls it a survey and it has property lines and stake locations and maybe even a building sometimes. Required by the mortgage company, kind of like title insurance, its just a good idea!
David from jax

A good idea is certainly one way to characterize it!

I see it as you doing your due diligence and trying to find any problems that you were unaware of before they became your problems that you suddenly became aware of.

The adage: Let the buyer beware still applies, somewhat.

 

[two_bit_score]

That's a good neighbor. It's always better when you can discuss things first and develop a mutually agreeable plan of action

MUCH less expensive too!