GIS maps are great, but I've found they're sometimes outdated or missing smaller easements. Learned that the hard way—almost missed an old utility easement buried in a scanned deed from the '70s. Now I always cross-check with original docs...tedious, but worth it.
Have you ever tried talking directly to the county clerk's office? I've had similar frustrations with GIS maps—great for a quick look, but they miss the finer details. When we bought our place, I ended up calling the county folks directly, and they pointed me to some handwritten notes from decades ago...felt like a treasure hunt, honestly. Might save you some headaches down the line, even if it sounds a bit old-school.
Yeah, GIS maps can be pretty hit-or-miss for the nitty-gritty stuff. I remember digging into some old property records once and ended up in a dusty basement flipping through yellowed papers...felt like Indiana Jones minus the cool hat. Did you find anything useful in those handwritten notes?
Those handwritten notes were actually more useful than I expected. Sure, deciphering the handwriting took some patience, but they clarified a boundary discrepancy that the online GIS maps completely missed. I've learned over the years that digital tools are handy as a starting point, but there's no substitute for original documents when dealing with property easements or boundaries. It's always worth the extra effort to double-check with physical records, even if it means getting a little dusty...
Had a similar experience last year with a renovation project. The online GIS maps showed a straightforward property line, but when I dug into the original survey documents from the 70s, there was this weird jog in the boundary that completely changed our setback requirements. Digital tools are great for quick checks, but honestly, nothing beats getting your hands on the original paperwork. Makes you wonder how many people rely solely on digital maps and end up missing something crucial...
