DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Yeah, those online maps are more like a rough sketch than anything you’d want to stake your property on. I’ve been through something similar—spent hours trying to line up the digital map with what’s actually in my backyard, and they never quite match up. For my last project, here’s how I tackled it: first, I pulled everything I could from the county site (even if it was outdated), then cross-checked with the title paperwork. After that, I physically walked the property with a measuring tape and flagged anything that looked like it might be an easement—old utility boxes, weird gaps between fences, stuff like that. Only after all that did I call a surveyor, just to double-check before sinking money into a new fence.
I get that it’s a hassle, but honestly, the peace of mind is worth it. Out of curiosity, has anyone tried using those private mapping services? The ones that charge for “premium” parcel data? Wondering if they’re any more accurate or just another layer of confusion...
Yeah, those online maps are more like a rough sketch than anything you’d want to stake your property on.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually think folks are a little too quick to dismiss the online tools. They’re not perfect, sure, but I’ve found them surprisingly useful—at least as a starting point. Maybe it depends on the county or the state, but in my area, the GIS maps have gotten a lot better over the last few years. I’ve caught a couple of things that the title paperwork missed, just by poking around on the county’s interactive map. Not saying I’d build a fence based on it, but it’s saved me time before I even bothered with a surveyor.
About those premium parcel data services—I tried one (think it was LandGlide or something similar) when I was looking at a property up north. Honestly? It was a mixed bag. The interface was slick, and it pulled in a lot of info, but the boundaries were still off by a few feet compared to what the surveyor eventually marked. The “premium” part seemed to be more about convenience than accuracy. If you’re just trying to get a general sense of things, it’s fine, but I wouldn’t trust it for anything legal or permanent.
One thing I will push back on: walking the property with a tape is great, but unless you know exactly where the survey markers are (and that they haven’t been moved), it’s still a bit of a guessing game. I’ve seen old iron pins buried under a foot of dirt or hidden in brush, and sometimes the fence lines are way off from the actual boundary. I guess my point is, all these tools—online maps, title docs, even the premium stuff—are just pieces of the puzzle. None of them are the whole picture.
Funny enough, the only time I ever got a totally clear answer was when I shelled out for a full survey. Expensive, but at least then I knew where things stood. Everything else is just... educated guesswork, really.
I’ve caught a couple of things that the title paperwork missed, just by poking around on the county’s interactive map. Not saying I’d build a fence based on it, but it’s saved me time befor...
Totally agree with you on the “pieces of the puzzle” idea. I’ve had clients show me printed GIS maps and say, “Here’s where we want the new garage,” and I have to gently break it to them that those lines are more like suggestions. Still, for brainstorming or sketching out ideas, those online tools are a lifesaver. I usually do a quick three-step: check the online map, walk the site (if you can find those ancient survey pins under the weeds), then call in the pros if things get hairy. It’s a little like cooking without a recipe—sometimes you nail it, sometimes you end up ordering pizza.
Honestly, those GIS maps are a double-edged sword. Super handy for getting a rough sense of things, but I’ve seen folks get burned when they treat those property lines as gospel. I had a project last year where the online map showed the neighbor’s fence way over the line, but when the surveyor came out, turns out the fence was actually spot-on—just the map was off by a few feet. It’s wild how much those little discrepancies can matter when you’re trying to squeeze in a new structure or avoid an easement.
I’m with you on the “walk the site” step. Sometimes you find those old iron pins, sometimes you just find poison ivy and a headache. But it’s worth it before you get too far down the design rabbit hole. I wish the online tools were more consistent across counties—some are great, others look like they haven’t been updated since dial-up days. At the end of the day, nothing beats a real survey if things start looking weird.
- Totally get what you mean about those GIS maps being hit or miss.
- I’ve had a couple close calls where I almost started digging based on the online lines—turns out, the “official” map was off by nearly four feet.
- Walking the site is a must, but man, sometimes those pins are buried deep or just gone.
- I wish counties would at least flag when their data’s outdated... some of those maps look like they were scanned from old paper plats.
- I still use the online tools for a ballpark, but if I’m building close to a line or easement, I just bite the bullet and pay for a survey.
- Anyone else notice that sometimes the easements aren’t even shown online? Makes it feel like a guessing game.
