Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?

I learned this the hard way when helping a friend redesign their backyard. We thought we had everything mapped out perfectly using online tools, but turns out we missed an easement by just a few feet. Had to completely rethink the patio layout mid-project—talk about stressful. Like you said:

"Online tools are handy for initial planning, but they're no substitute for boots-on-the-ground accuracy."

Definitely worth investing in a proper survey upfront...lesson learned.

- Totally get where you're coming from—seen this happen more times than I'd like to admit.
- Online tools are great for rough sketches, but nothing beats a proper survey. Had a client once who nearly built a shed right over a utility easement...luckily caught it early.
- Curious, did the easement issue affect your timeline much, or were you able to pivot pretty quickly?