Most people think they know where their front and back yards begin and end. Most people think they know who is allowed to enter and exit their property lawfully. The problem is, they might not be correct if they haven’t had a surveyor professionally survey their property.
If you haven’t used a surveyor to review the property your home sits on, you might want to consider doing it before a property dispute arises. Here are a few of the most important reasons why:
Boundary lines
It’s important that any fence you build respects the boundary lines between you and your neighbors’ properties. You also definitely want to know where your property begins and ends before adding a more permanent sunroom, wall or driveway to your property. A professional surveyor can provide you with a boundary line certification so you know for sure where the borders of your property are.
Easements, rights-of-way and old roads
Not all property titles are free and clear. Yes, you might own the property, but another party — like a business or a local government — could own an easement on your land. Or, there might be an abandoned road or a right-of-way that another party could utilize in the future. An easement, for example, might allow for the construction of a road in the future, or it could simply allow your neighbor to walk across your property to access the street.
Utility lines
It’s easy to see what’s going on above land, but what about hidden drains, telephone wire pipes, drains, gas lines, water lines, sewer pipes, electrical wires, cable television and internet connections and more? A surveyor can show you where underground gas lines, cables and other things like this are located. This will show you if a utility company can access your property to maintain these lines and even remove trees and bushes within the utility easement. It will also show you where it’s safe to dig and build things on your land.
If you plan to do any kind of construction on your property, make sure you have an accurate assessment from a certified surveyor before you begin the project.
Source: FindLaw, “Top 10 Reasons to Have Your Property Surveyed,” accessed May 24, 2018