Did you know that only 37% of homeowners have verified their property lines with a professional survey? Understanding exactly where your property ends is crucial to avoid disputes with neighbors, such as who’s responsible for removing a fallen tree.
Knowing your property boundaries is also essential before starting significant projects like installing a fence or building a shed to ensure you don’t encroach on your neighbor’s land.
Here’s how you can find out where your property lines are, often without spending any money. Discovering how to accurately identify your property boundaries could save you from future headaches and disputes.
Read along to ensure you’re part of the informed few, protecting your peace and property.
What are property lines?
A property’s legal perimeter is known as its property line. It denotes the beginning and end of land ownership. The terms “frontage” and “sidelines” refer to the property lines on the front and side, respectively. These distances are determined by local zoning laws, and your taxes are assessed on this basis as well.
Why is knowing your Property Lines important?
Understanding where your property begins and ends is crucial for several reasons. Here’s why it matters:
- Property disputes: Neighbors occasionally disagree on the boundaries between one property and another. These disputes often come from not knowing the exact boundaries or mistakenly using someone else’s land. Having clear, documented property lines helps prevent these disagreements.
- Encroachment: There might be times when a neighbor might build something that crosses into your property, like a fence or another structure. This is called encroachment. You can resolve these issues through legal action or mediation, but knowing your property lines helps identify encroachments early.
- Subdivisions: If you plan to split your property and give a part away, you’ll need a detailed survey. This ensures that the part you’re giving away can have title insurance, making the division clear and official.
- Easement: Sometimes, a neighbor might need to use a part of your property to access theirs, especially if their property is surrounded by others (landlocked). This is known as an easement, and it’s only granted if necessary. Knowing your property lines is key to understanding where easements might apply.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to find your Property Lines?
Knowing your property’s exact boundaries is elementary for projects, neighborly relations, and legal clarity. So, here’s a simple guide on how to look up property lines:
Step 1: Start with Your Deed and Survey
- Understanding Your Deed:
- The deed is a key legal document.
- It shows ownership and details your property’s boundaries in words.
- Looking at Your Survey:
- A survey provides a visual map of your property.
- Created by professionals, it includes measurements and landmarks.
- Finding missing documents:
- If your survey is missing, check with your mortgage lender or title insurance company.
- Surveys are often required for loan approval and may be on file with these entities.
Step 2: Look for Boundary Markers
- Understanding Boundary Markers:
- Boundary markers are used by surveyors to indicate property corners.
- These can include metal stakes, concrete monuments, or natural features such as rocks.
- Locating Markers:
- To find these markers, inspect the edges of your property for any signs.
- For markers that might be underground, a metal detector can aid in the search.
- Pre-Digging Precautions:
- Before attempting to dig up any buried markers, call 811.
- This free service helps mark the location of underground utilities to prevent accidental damage.
Step 3: Talk to Your Neighbors
- Starting Conversations: Talking to your neighbors can uncover details about the property’s past and boundaries.
- Accessing Surveys: Neighbors might have surveys you haven’t seen, providing useful data.
- Learning from Assessments: They may have gone through boundary assessments and can share insights.
- Understanding Mutual Boundaries: This information can help both of you understand where your properties meet.
Step 4: Check Local Records and Government Offices
- Identifying Relevant Offices:
- Local government entities, such as the county clerk’s or assessor’s office, are key resources for property records.
- What you’ll find:
- These offices hold various records, including deeds that document ownership, maps providing geographical details, and surveys that outline property boundaries.
- Accessing the information:
- Many of these records are public and might be accessible online through the county’s official website.
- If digital access isn’t an option, visiting the office in person can help you obtain the documents you need.
- Understanding Plat Maps:
- Plat maps are detailed maps that show the divisions of land within a particular area, such as a neighborhood or subdivision.
- They provide a comprehensive overview of how to find your property line. Also about the lot sizes and other significant details that help in pinpointing your property boundaries.
- Plat maps are especially useful for understanding how your property fits within the larger context of your neighborhood, including the layout of adjacent properties.
Step 5: Use Online Mapping Tools
- Online Tools Overview:
Google Earth and GIS (Geographic Information System) databases from your county offer views from above that can show property lines. - Purpose and Limitations:
These tools are great for a basic understanding of where your property might be laid out, but they’re not a substitute for legal documentation. - Getting More Precise:
For detailed and exact property lines, look for how to find your property line online services that let you add your survey documents, such as KML files, to their maps. - Understanding Costs:
While initial tools like Google Earth are free, uploading and using official survey data for precise mapping might cost money.
Step 6: Hire a Professional Surveyor
- Choosing Professional Help:
To get the most accurate and legally binding details about your property lines, it’s best to hire a professional surveyor. - Why does it matter?
Surveyors employ sophisticated tools and technology to measure your property with precision. - Understanding Costs:
The cost of hiring a surveyor varies, but the investment often provides valuable peace of mind. - Checking Credentials:
Always verify that the surveyor you hire is licensed and insured, ensuring the quality and reliability of their work.
What Does a Property Line Survey Cost?
Surveying your property lines usually costs between $300 and $700, with the average being around $500 for a regular home lot. The price can be lower, around $300, for small, simple-shaped lots in new areas where it’s easy to find the records, making the survey process quicker.
Here’s what can affect the price:
- Size and Shape of Lot: Square or rectangular lots are cheaper to survey. If your land is L-shaped or very large, it’s going to cost more because it takes more time and effort.
- The Land Itself: If your property is hilly, and has lots of trees, streams, or bushes, it’s harder to measure, which can increase the price.
- When It Was Last Surveyed: If your property hasn’t been checked in a long time, and the old records use landmarks that don’t exist anymore, the surveyor has to do more work to figure out the boundaries.
- How Far the Surveyor Travels: If the surveyor has to come from far away, you might pay more to cover their travel costs.
- Where You Live: The cost of surveying can also vary depending on where you are, as different places have different living costs and demand for surveyors.
So, the cost can change based on these factors, making some surveys cheaper and others more expensive.
End Note!
Identifying your property lines is crucial for legal definitions and protection, not just for installing fences. Carefully review your deed’s legal description and consult local zoning laws before any construction. This approach not only defines your property accurately but also prevents future disputes and legal issues.
By staying informed about the rules and regulations governing property lines, you can avoid unnecessary taxes and complications. However, if you encounter any challenges, remember that professional help is always available.
Contact us for assistance and expert advice from realtors in Connecticut and nationwide to solve any property line concerns. That brings us to something important. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Easton, CT – and beyond – we’ve got you covered. But, first, if you are looking to call your next property “home”, then check out houses for sale in Easton, CT.
