Title: Digging Into Property Easements—Anyone Else Find Online Tools Confusing?
At this point, I trust the surveyor with the little orange flags more than any digital map.
That’s a smart call. Those little orange flags have saved me from a world of headaches more than once. Digital maps are great for getting you in the ballpark, but I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that they’re not gospel. I’ve had county GIS data show an easement running ten feet off where it actually was—close enough to lull you into a false sense of security, but not close enough when you’re about to dig.
Honestly, I think a lot of people underestimate how much those “informational purposes only” disclaimers really mean. Like you said, it’s a free pass for them, but if we mess up, we’re the ones paying for repairs or worse. I always tell folks—use the online stuff as a starting point, but don’t skip calling 811 and bringing in a pro with a transit if you’re doing anything major.
Funny thing is, I’ve even had surveyors disagree with each other on old properties where records are fuzzy. At that point, it’s less about what the map says and more about who’s willing to sign off on it. Not ideal, but it’s reality sometimes.
Anyway, you’re not alone in finding those online tools confusing or even misleading. They’re helpful, but only up to a point. When money and liability are on the line, I’d take boots on the ground over pixels every time.
I’ve had county GIS data show an easement running ten feet off where it actually was
This is exactly what happened when we were planning our fence line. The online maps made it look simple, but the actual boundary was off by a good few feet. Ended up paying for a survey just for peace of mind. Pixels are nice, but I’d rather trust the stakes in the ground.
Pixels are nice, but I’d rather trust the stakes in the ground.
That’s been my experience too. We thought we’d save some cash by using the county’s online map for our driveway extension, but once the contractor came out, he flagged a totally different line. Turns out, the neighbor’s old fence was actually on our side by about two feet. Has anyone ever had luck getting the county to update their GIS data after a survey? Or is it just “buyer beware” with those maps?
Title: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
Honestly, I’ve never seen a county GIS map that’s 100% reliable for property lines. They’re a decent starting point, but I’d always trust a physical survey over pixels. Getting the county to update their data? That’s a slow process, if it happens at all. It’s frustrating, but you did the right thing by double-checking before pouring concrete. Those “buyer beware” warnings are there for a reason...
I’m right there with you—those GIS maps are helpful, but I wouldn’t bet my renovation budget on them being accurate. Last year, I almost paid for a fence install based on the county’s map, then the surveyor found the line was off by three feet. That could’ve been a pricey mistake...
