Yeah, learned that lesson myself a couple years back when putting in a fence. Online maps showed the easement clear as day, but when the utility folks came out, turns out I was off by almost two feet. Had to pull up posts and redo half the line...not fun. Now I always double-check with official surveys or at least call the utility directly. Saves headaches down the road for sure.
Had a similar issue with a client's backyard deck last spring—online maps were way off, and we ended up having to tweak the whole layout last minute. Curious if anyone's found certain online tools more reliable than others for initial planning?
I've run into similar headaches with online mapping tools—especially when dealing with older properties or rural areas. A few things I've learned the hard way:
- Google Maps is decent for general layout, but property lines and easements can be way off.
- County GIS maps are usually more accurate, but even those can lag behind recent changes or updates.
- I've had better luck cross-checking multiple sources—county GIS, local zoning offices, and sometimes even old-school paper surveys from the homeowner.
Honestly, nothing beats an actual surveyor's report if accuracy matters. Costs a bit more upfront, but saves a ton of headaches later on. Curious if anyone's tried drone mapping or aerial imaging services for this kind of thing...are they worth the investment?
"Honestly, nothing beats an actual surveyor's report if accuracy matters. Costs a bit more upfront, but saves a ton of headaches later on."
Totally get where you're coming from, but as someone who's always watching the budget, I've found drone mapping surprisingly helpful. Had a friend use it for a rural property, and the aerial images were detailed enough to spot discrepancies that county GIS missed. Sure, it's not as bulletproof as a full survey, but for initial checks or smaller projects, it might save you some cash and hassle...
Drone mapping's definitely come a long way lately. I've used it a couple times myself, and it's great for spotting obvious issues or getting a quick lay of the land. But when it comes to easements or boundary disputes—stuff that can get messy fast—I still lean toward a proper survey. Like you said:
"Sure, it's not as bulletproof as a full survey..."
Exactly. For peace of mind (and avoiding awkward neighbor conversations later), sometimes it's worth biting the bullet upfront.
