Title: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
You nailed it—those online maps are just a starting point, not gospel. I’ve run into the same thing where the GIS data looked fine until I actually started measuring on site. Turns out, the fence line was way off from what the map showed. It’s tempting to trust the tech, but nothing beats a stamped survey when you’re about to break ground. The digital stuff is handy for quick checks, but I wouldn’t risk a project on it.
Funny you mention the fence line—ran into something similar when I bought my place. The county’s GIS map had my driveway showing up on the neighbor’s parcel, which made for some awkward conversations. Ended up hiring a surveyor just to be safe. Has anyone here actually had luck getting corrections made to those online maps, or is it just a lost cause? I’ve always wondered if it’s worth the hassle or if most folks just live with the discrepancies.
Title: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
That’s wild—had a similar headache with a shed that “migrated” onto my neighbor’s lot according to the county map. Honestly, I think those GIS tools are helpful but far from gospel. I did push for a correction once after getting a survey, and it actually worked, but it took months and a lot of back-and-forth. It’s worth it if you care about future resale or want to avoid disputes, but yeah, it’s a slog. I wish counties would prioritize accuracy, especially as more folks rely on these maps for planning green upgrades or even just planting trees.
Yeah, those online maps are more of a rough guide than anything official. I’ve seen property lines on GIS tools that don’t match up with what’s actually staked out in the yard. Had a fence “move” a couple feet overnight, according to the county’s update—except it hadn’t budged in 20 years. Surveys are expensive but honestly, they’re the only way to be sure. Wish the counties would sync things up better, but I’m not holding my breath.
TITLE: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
Those GIS maps are notorious for being “close enough,” but never quite right. I’ve lost count of how many times a client’s property line on the county’s website doesn’t match what’s actually marked on site. One time, the digital map put a shed halfway into the neighbor’s yard—except it had been in the same spot since the ‘90s and the survey stakes backed that up.
It baffles me that with all our tech, we still end up relying on 100-year-old iron pins and a guy with a tripod to tell us where things really are. Honestly, I get why surveys cost what they do—there’s just no substitute if you want certainty. But yeah, it’d be nice if counties didn’t “move” fences overnight with a click. You’d think syncing up digital records and real-world boundaries would be higher priority, but apparently not... Maybe one day they’ll get it sorted, but until then, I’m sticking with good old-fashioned survey data when it counts.
