re: Property Lines

Google maps shows property lines, too. Wouldn't say that's super reliable, but will give another mark.

From what I can tell, maybe I'm looking at it wrong, or maybe Zappas Stache is right about drunks drawing lines, but it doesn't look like encroachment to me.

Even if it is, you have every right to make someone move a fence off your property.

A book with the convenents, legal description of property and all kinds of history of previous owners. Usually provided by developer or previous owner.
As said would contain a legal description of the property and perhaps a drawing of property

Tax assessor site is not accurate and says so, or at least every one we have ever used- and we use them hundreds of times a year. How did you buy property and not have it surveyed in the first place? Call a surveyor and get your checkbook ready.

I discover the commercial property behind me had built the fence 3 get into my yard. Had a survey done and they were forced to move the fence and repair my property.

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Get a survey done.

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My neighbor had a survey done when he was doing some work and my fence was about a foot on his property. He told me about it, showed me the survey and I agreed to move the fence. He paid for half and he didn't have to do that. Underneath I was miffed because its a small lot close to downtown, but it was the right thing to do.

Get a survey done.

As a licensed surveyor I would like to add the following.

When you clicked on the assessors maps there was a disclaimer, read it.

Aerial photos are taken in what looks like an inverted ice cream cone. As you get away from the center of the photo distortion comes in to play. A cad tech is reading everyone's deed and with his/her best guess drawing property lines on the photos. This info can easily be several feet off. Their purpose is for the assessor to have a better understanding of approximately what you property looks like. It has no more legal standing than using a crayon on toilet paper to represent your property.

Your property lines are determined by your deed which contains a description and most likely refers to a subdivision plat which may be recorded in an earlier document. Most likely metal monuments were set at the corners after the plat was approved and before it was recorded. These original monuments typically rebar or iron pipe control the location of your property. If your deed says 100' wide lot and your original monuments are 99.5' apart you now have a 99.5' lot. Nothing except in very rare instances can anything overrule them.

If one or more of the monuments get destroyed then the surveyor uses what is found plus the plat to reconstruct the missing monuments proper location and then reset it. If it is done wrong these reset monuments can have error. As a side note some monuments may not be set on the corners, the subdivision plat should give you this information.

To know for sure you need to hire a licensed surveyor, and don't let the lowest price influence your decision. I have spent many days in court disagreeing with the cheapest surveyor where they reset missing monuments.

You are paying for a professional opinion, so do you want the best or the cheapest.

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When you clicked on the assessors maps there was a disclaimer, read it

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I did, that's why I stated

"I know the boundary line may not be accurate in the photo"

But I guess everyone just wants to overlook it and tell me what I've already stated. Perhaps next time I will be more explicit that I know this is not to be used on legal documents and that the County Assessor makes every effort to produce the most accurate information possible. No warranties, expressed or implied are provided for the data herein, its use or interpretation. The assessment information is from the last certified tax roll. All other data is subject to change.

I appreciate your expertise and insight. You provided great detail about the intricacies of property lines.

Time to call a surveyor and pony up the $$$

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Private firm or does the local authority normally offer a service?

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You will spend a few hundred $'s and they will only lay out where your property lines are; draw it on paper/ computer and file it with the county/ parish (will be a fee).

Couple different surveys can be done:
ALTA/ACSM Survey.
Boundary Survey.
Construction Staking.
Location Survey.
Right-of-Way Survey.
Topographic Survey.

Boundary would be best in your case.

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Get a survey done.

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/thread


The only answer.

Best bet money wise, will be to get a copy of the subdivision plat (courthouse or otherwise), find what surveyor did the original and call them up to locate/stake/set your corners. Since they did the original they will have everything they need to put it on the ground for you.

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My neighbor had a survey done when he was doing some work and my fence was about a foot on his property.

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Same here. I bought the empty lots directly to the east and west of my property. I had to pay for a survey to be able to extend my privacy fence and the survey showed my fence was a foot on to my neighbor's property. I'm not the original owner.

I caught him outside and explained it to him. I offered to buy the one foot strip, but he turned me down. I told him that I would move the fence when we extended it and he laughed at me and told me he wasn't worried about it.

I'll probably have the fence guys move the fence line anyways. Is rather do it up front instead of 4 or 5 years down the road.