Knowing your Property: Why you should get a Property Survey

Have you ever moved into a new house that had a fence already up? Did you assume that the fence was your property line? If so, you may be in error unless you’ve had a professional <a title=Land surveyor at DryCo! Href=http://www.drycosurveying.com/resources/land-surveyor.html>land surveyor</a> come out to confirm. Having a <a title=Property survey at DryCo! Href=http://www.drycosurveying.com/resources/property-survey.html>property survey</a> can make sure you understand your boundaries. Too many times homeowners wrongly assume that an existing fence is the same thing as a property line. This can lead them and their neighbor to be very upset when they find out the property line is drastically different.

If you are about to embark on the exciting journey of purchasing a new house make sure that you know where property lines are on any property you are considering purchasing. Don’t take the word of your real estate agent or the word of an existing property owner either, unless they can show that they’ve had a survey company out to perform a legal land survey. You may find your real estate agent wanting to give you information regarding the property boundaries. However, make note that they are not allowed to do this. They are only authorized to give instructions on where and how to hire a professional surveyor to do a proper survey and determine the real boundaries for the property in question.

Land surveyors will almost never automatically assume that a fence is the property lines unless it is outlined in the deed as such. There is specific wording in deeds that can call attention to a fence if it is the property line and the land surveyor should know that information as well. The land surveyor will follow instructions in the deed. Often problems arise because people assume a fence is a natural property line and therefore believe that a property survey is unnecessary.

While an existing property owner may have some answers and is usually not out to mislead anyone, they are simply not qualified to tell you what the boundary is unless they’ve hired a land surveyor and can prove it to you. A land survey should be considered standard practice when deciding to purchase a home with property. Days, months or years down the road, many problems could arise that are best taken care of before the property is even purchased. Get rid of the problem before it becomes a problem down the road.

There is a lot to think about when purchasing a new home and I’m willing to bet that property boundaries are not necessarily the top of the to do list. However, understanding where the property lines are in the beginning can not only stop neighbor disputes down the road, but help you to determine where you want to construct a fence or any other type of barrier. Choosing a good land surveyor is key, especially one with a strong reputation that you can trust. Never assume that a fence is the property line and never assume that you can figure out the property lines on your own. Unless the current owner and/or your future neighbors have already had a land surveyor, don’t trust their word. Make sure you do what you need to in order to protect yourself and your home for years to come.