Yeah, I hear you. Those online maps are great for a quick look, but I’ve seen them put property lines in the middle of a creek that’s been there forever, or show an easement where there’s clearly a fence and mature trees. It’s kind of wild how much they can be off, especially once you get out of city limits. I still use them to get a rough idea before heading out, but when it comes to actually building or making any big decisions, I’m with you—boots on the ground and a real survey every time.
Funny thing is, I’ve had folks argue with me using screenshots from those GIS sites like they’re gospel. Doesn’t matter how many times you explain that the digital layers are just an estimate... some people just trust what’s on their screen more than what’s in front of their face. Anyway, glad I’m not the only one who gets frustrated by this stuff.