DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
It’s like a weird game of telephone, but with property lines.
That’s the perfect way to put it. I’ve had projects where the GIS map showed an easement that didn’t exist, and the city clerk just shrugged when I asked about it. Honestly, I treat those online tools like a weather forecast—good for a general idea, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on them. Still waiting for the day someone makes a tool that actually matches what’s on the ground... but not holding my breath.
Honestly, I treat those online tools like a weather forecast—good for a general idea, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on them.
That’s exactly how I feel. I tried to use the county’s map to figure out if there was an easement behind my house, and it showed three different things depending on which layer I clicked. Ended up calling a surveyor just to be sure, which wasn’t cheap, but at least I know for real now. Wish there was a budget-friendly way to double-check this stuff without hiring someone every time.
Totally get where you’re coming from. Those map layers can be a real headache—sometimes I feel like I need a decoder ring just to figure out what’s what. One thing that’s helped me is cross-referencing the county GIS with old plat maps or deeds (if you can dig them up). Not always perfect, but sometimes you’ll spot inconsistencies before shelling out for a surveyor. Still, nothing beats having someone with the right tools and know-how double-check it, even if it stings the wallet a bit.
sometimes I feel like I need a decoder ring just to figure out what’s what
That’s exactly how I felt the first time I tried to look up our easements online. The GIS map had so many overlapping lines, I honestly gave up and just walked the property with a printout and a highlighter. Ended up finding an old fence that didn’t match any of the maps, which was confusing. In the end, we did pay for a surveyor—painful, but at least now I know where everything actually is.
Honestly, those online maps make my eyes cross. I tried following the county’s GIS layers, but half the time I can’t tell if I’m looking at a sewer line or a property boundary. Ended up walking around with a tape measure and my phone... probably looked like a lost surveyor. The surveyor fee stings, but at least you know for sure—my neighbor still swears his shed is “technically” on his side, but the map says otherwise.
