"Calling city hall directly is usually worth the extra few minutes."
True, but in my experience, those "few minutes" can quickly turn into hours of waiting or callbacks that never happen. I've found hiring a local surveyor—even for a quick consult—can sometimes be more cost-effective in the long run. Yeah, it's an upfront expense, but it beats the frustration of chasing down city employees who may or may not have accurate info handy...
I get the logic behind hiring a surveyor, but honestly, I've found another route that's worked pretty well for me—checking with local title companies. A lot of people overlook them, but title companies usually have quick access to accurate easement info, and they're often happy to help out with a quick question or two. I've done this a few times, and it's saved me both the headache of city hall phone tag and the expense of a surveyor.
Not knocking surveyors at all—they're great when you need detailed boundary lines or you're planning something major—but if you're just trying to get a basic idea of easements, title companies can be a surprisingly efficient resource. Plus, they're usually pretty responsive by email, so you don't have to sit on hold forever or wait for callbacks that never come...
Good tip about title companies—honestly hadn't thought of that route before. I've usually gone the surveyor route myself, but I can see how your method would save some hassle.
A couple other things I've found helpful when digging into easements:
- County GIS maps online: They're not always perfect, but they can give you a quick visual reference to start with.
- Talking to neighbors who've lived in the area forever: Sometimes they know about easements or property quirks that aren't obvious from official docs.
- Checking old property deeds: A bit tedious, but sometimes older documents have clearer language about easements than newer ones.
I agree online tools can be confusing—half the time they're outdated or just plain clunky. But combining a few different resources usually gets me close enough to feel confident before making any big moves.
Another thing that's saved me some headaches is checking zoning board minutes online—sometimes easements or disputes pop up there. Can be dull reading, but worth it before you dive into a project and hit a surprise snag... learned that one the hard way.
Good tip on zoning board minutes—been there, done that, got the headache too. If you're finding online tools confusing, here's what I usually do: start with the county GIS map first (most counties have them free online). It'll show easements visually, which helps a ton. Then check the deed or title docs for specifics. After that, zoning minutes like you mentioned—tedious as heck, but sometimes gold. A bit of coffee and patience goes a long way...
