DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Had a similar headache a few years back. The county’s GIS map put my fence in the neighbor’s yard, but my deed and an old survey said otherwise. Tried getting the county to update it—lots of paperwork, not much progress. Ended up hiring a surveyor just for peace of mind. Those online tools are handy for a ballpark, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on them.
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Man, those GIS maps are a trip, aren’t they? I swear, half the time I’m zooming in and out like I’m playing some weird video game, trying to figure out if my shed is technically in my yard or if I’ve accidentally annexed a chunk of the neighbor’s flower bed. The lines never seem to match up with what’s actually on the ground. I get that they’re supposed to be “approximate,” but sometimes it feels like they just guessed after a long lunch.
I ran into something similar when I was putting in a new driveway last year. The online map said there was an easement running right through where I wanted to pour concrete, but my paper plat from the ‘80s didn’t mention it at all. Called the county office and got three different answers depending on who picked up the phone. Ended up walking the property with a tape measure and a buddy, just to see if anything lined up. Spoiler: it didn’t.
Honestly, I think those online tools are great for getting a rough idea, but when it comes down to actually building or planting something permanent, I’d rather trust an old-school surveyor with a tripod and a sunburn. It’s not cheap, but at least you can sleep at night knowing you’re not about to get a letter from the city or your neighbor’s lawyer.
Funny thing is, after all that, I found out the “easement” was just a utility company’s right to trim trees along the back fence. No one had touched it in decades. Sometimes I wonder if half these lines are just leftovers from when someone drew them with a shaky hand back in the day.
Anyway, you’re not alone. Those tools are helpful until they aren’t... then it’s back to boots on the ground and hoping your neighbor isn’t too cranky about you poking around near their tomatoes.
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
You are speaking my language with the “video game” comparison. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve squinted at those GIS maps, thinking, “Wait, is that my fence or the neighbor’s?” It’s wild how the lines on the screen just don’t seem to match up with what you see when you’re actually standing in your yard. I’ve even tried overlaying old plat maps with the county’s online stuff and it’s like trying to fit two different puzzles together. Sometimes I wonder if the folks who digitized these things just kind of eyeballed it and called it a day.
I totally get the urge to just measure everything yourself. When I was helping a client plan out a backyard studio, we spent half a day pacing off distances and comparing them to what the online map said. Spoiler: we were off by a good six feet in some spots. It’s nerve-wracking, especially when you’re about to spend real money on something permanent.
Honestly, I wish there was a better way. The online tools are handy for getting a general sense, but when you’re dealing with property lines or easements, “close enough” just doesn’t cut it. I know hiring a surveyor isn’t cheap, but it’s saved my clients more than a few headaches (and probably some awkward neighbor conversations). Plus, nothing beats having someone show up with all the fancy gear and tell you exactly where you stand—literally.
Funny thing, I’ve seen those random utility easements pop up too. Half the time, they look like relics from another era. One house I worked on had a “future sidewalk” easement from the 1960s that never got built. The owners had no idea until they tried to put in a new fence. Sometimes it feels like you need a history degree just to read these maps.
Anyway, I’m with you—those tools are a good starting point, but when it comes to making changes, I’d rather trust someone who can actually walk the property and give me a straight answer. At least then you know where you stand, even if it means moving a shed or two.
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Those GIS maps are a headache, honestly. I’ve had projects where the online parcel lines were off by several feet, which can really mess with planning. I get why people want to trust the tech, but it’s just not reliable for anything critical. I’ve even seen easements that don’t show up online at all—only in old deeds or survey docs. It’s wild. At the end of the day, I’d rather pay for a survey than risk a costly mistake. The tech’s getting better, but it’s not there yet.
Yeah, those online maps can be a real pain. I once tried to figure out where my fence could go using the county’s GIS tool, and ended up three feet into my neighbor’s yard. Had to laugh about it later, but it could’ve been a mess if I’d actually started digging. I get wanting to save money, but sometimes it’s cheaper in the long run to just get a pro survey done. The tech’s cool and all, but I don’t trust it for anything more than a rough idea.
