"Turns out, I was off by about three feet—neighbor wasn't thrilled."
Did your neighbor actually measure it themselves, or did they just eyeball it and call you out? I've always wondered how precise these online maps really are... I mean, three feet isn't much, but enough to cause trouble obviously. Did the official survey match closely with what you expected otherwise, or were there other surprises lurking around the property lines? Seems like getting a survey upfront might save headaches later on.
"Seems like getting a survey upfront might save headaches later on."
While I agree that a professional survey is usually the gold standard, I've seen cases where even official surveys had minor discrepancies. A friend of mine had a similar issue—he got a full survey done before installing a fence, and still ended up having to move it by nearly two feet after the neighbor contested it. Turns out there was an older, conflicting survey on record from decades ago, and resolving that took months of back-and-forth paperwork.
Online mapping tools definitely aren't perfect, but honestly, even official surveys can have their quirks. Property markers shift or disappear over time, and historical records aren't always consistent. Three feet might seem minor, but when you're dealing with luxury properties (or picky neighbors), every inch counts. I'd recommend using online maps as a preliminary reference only—then cross-check carefully with county records or previous surveys before making any permanent decisions.
"even official surveys can have their quirks. Property markers shift or disappear over time"
Totally agree with this. When we built our place, the surveyor had trouble locating one of the original markers—it was buried under decades of landscaping and dirt buildup. Took him hours to find it, and even then, he wasn't 100% sure it hadn't shifted slightly. Online tools are handy for a quick glance, but nothing beats physically verifying markers yourself if you can... saves headaches later.
We had a similar issue when renovating our backyard—markers were nowhere near where the online maps said they'd be. Ended up digging around flower beds for hours... felt like a treasure hunt without the treasure, haha. Definitely trust your eyes over screens on this one.
Had a similar experience when we were putting in our pool last summer. The online maps made it look super straightforward, but once we started digging, nothing matched up. We ended up having to call in a local surveyor to get accurate measurements. Honestly, it was worth every penny—saved us from accidentally hitting utility lines or encroaching on the neighbor's property.
I know it feels like an extra hassle (and expense), but if you're doing anything major, it's probably worth getting a professional survey done. Online tools are great for general ideas, but when it comes down to inches and feet, real eyes and actual measurements beat digital guesses any day. Plus, the surveyor we hired gave us some good tips about local regulations and setbacks we hadn't even considered.
Totally agree with you though—felt like we were on some weird backyard archaeology dig at first, haha. Glad your flower beds survived the adventure!
