DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve stared at those online maps thinking, “Is that a driveway or a creek?” They’re useful for a quick peek, but when it comes to easements, they just don’t cut it. Here’s my usual process: first, check the online maps for a general idea. Second, dig through the title and any old survey docs if I can get them. Third, always—no matter how good it looks—bring in a surveyor. It feels like overkill until you see that mystery utility line pop up right where you wanted to put a shed. Learned that one the hard way...
DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
I totally get what you mean about those maps. When we started building our place, I thought the county’s online GIS tool would make things simple. Instead, I spent hours zooming in and out, trying to figure out if that weird dotted line was a fence or some old irrigation ditch. At one point, I was convinced there was an easement running right through our planned garden—turned out it was just a shadow from a tree on the aerial photo.
We ended up hiring a surveyor too, even though it felt like an extra expense at the time. But when he flagged a buried cable line that wasn’t marked anywhere online, I was so relieved we hadn’t started digging. Honestly, those tools are fine for getting a rough idea, but I wouldn’t trust them for anything important. It’s wild how much stuff just doesn’t show up unless you really dig (sometimes literally).
- Honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with some of those GIS tools—maybe it depends on the county? I’ve found them pretty handy for sketching out initial design ideas, especially when I want to play with outdoor layouts.
- Sure, they’re not perfect, but for visualizing big-picture stuff, they save me a ton of time before I get into the nitty-gritty.
- I still double-check with a pro if I’m planning anything major, but I kinda like having that digital sandbox to experiment in first.
- Maybe it’s just my inner design nerd talking, but sometimes those “rough ideas” spark the best inspiration.
Digging Into Property Easements—Anyone Else Find Online Tools Confusing?
That’s interesting, because I’ve run into a lot of inconsistencies with those GIS maps depending on which county I’m looking at. Some have super detailed overlays, others are missing half the parcel info or the easement lines are just... not there. I do like being able to sketch out ideas and see rough boundaries, but I always end up second-guessing if the data’s actually up to date.
Have you ever had a situation where the online map showed something different than what the surveyor found? I had a weird case last year where the digital tool showed an easement running right through what I thought was my buildable area, but the official plat map didn’t match up at all. Made me wonder how much you can really trust those for anything beyond brainstorming.
Curious if you’ve noticed any tricks for figuring out which sources are most reliable, or if it’s just a matter of cross-checking everything. Sometimes feels like a bit of a treasure hunt...
Totally get what you mean—those online maps can be all over the place. I’ve had projects where the digital info looked super clear, but then the surveyor came in and it was a whole different story. Once, I was planning out a patio and the GIS map made it look like we were good, but the deed restrictions turned out to be way stricter than what was showing online. Now I just treat those maps as a rough draft and double-check with the county or a surveyor before getting too attached to any design ideas. It really does feel like a scavenger hunt sometimes...
