DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Funny how often those old markers end up being the real deal, even when the fancy maps say otherwise. Has anyone here actually had luck getting a digital plat or GIS map to match up with what a surveyor finds on site? Or is it always a bit of a gamble?
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Honestly, I’ve tried to save a few bucks by relying on those online maps, but every time I think I’ve got it figured out, the surveyor comes out and points to something totally different. It’s like the digital stuff is just a rough guess half the time. Has anyone managed to get by without hiring a full survey, or is that just asking for trouble?
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
I totally get what you mean. I tried using those online maps when I was planning a backyard studio, thinking it’d be simple to figure out where the easements were. Ended up with a headache and a bunch of conflicting info. The city’s map said one thing, the county’s said another... and then the surveyor showed up and basically told me to ignore both. I wanted to save money too, but honestly, I think skipping the survey just isn’t worth the risk if you’re doing anything major. It’s wild how off those digital tools can be.
the surveyor showed up and basically told me to ignore both
That’s been my experience too. Those online maps are decent for a rough idea, but when you’re actually putting up a structure, I always tell folks—get a real survey done. The digital stuff is just too unreliable, especially with older properties where easements have shifted over time. I’ve seen projects stall for weeks because the “official” map didn’t match reality. Not worth the gamble, honestly.
the “official” map didn’t match reality. Not worth the gamble, honestly.
I ran into this exact issue last year when we started our build. The county’s online map showed one thing, but when the surveyor came out, the property line was off by almost six feet. It threw off our whole plan for the driveway. I get why people use those tools—they’re easy—but I wouldn’t trust them for anything permanent. Even the “official” documents can be way out of date.
