Property lines?

[CryPixie83]

We're thinking about putting up a fence around our yard, but I don't know where our yard ends and the neighbor's begins. How do I find out? (asking the neighbors won't help, they rent and don't know about, or respect, property lines)

[fek&fuzz]

you can get a surveyor to come out, ask a RE agent for a recommendation, or look in your yellow pages.

[Alkenny]

Cal your city offices and find out...you may have to get a permit to put one up too (my dad and brother both did).

[earthmama369]

Your town hall should have the property lines, as that's how they calculate taxes.

[CryPixie83]

Cool, thank you!

[Cheshire]

Also, check the paperwork from when you bought the house. You might have a copy of the official survey that was done (most closings require them).

Our neighbors told us our property ended at our fence line on the back and we just assumed he was correct. About three years later I was going through our folder from closing and found that he was wrong. Our property extends back about twice as far as our fenced yard (though at the fence it stops being flat and grassy and turns into a forest that slopes downhill).

It's not useable space but it is sure nice to know it's ours.

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by Cheshire

Also, check the paperwork from when you bought the house. You might have a copy of the official survey that was done (most closings require them).

We're going the "lease-to-own" route so we only have the lease papers, no surveys or anything like that.

[Peony]

Check out county regulations about fencing for quirks. My county/state? has a regulation that if a fence has been there longer then 7 years then the actual property lines change. We have land that should belong to us, but because previous owners didn't fence to the end of the property line (the fence is way before it), the property is considered no man's land. If we want it back then we have to go through this huge process.

[magpie mamma]

survey markers

You may be able to find survey markers if you are lucky. They can be special metal stakes with a disc on the top or just metal stakes, just be sure they are not former fence posts, etc. You could find out the property width/length from the city or your tax information may also have it and double check what you found with the listed dimension. But the safest thing to do is get a survey, labor and materials for a fence are expensive enough, but even more if it is not where it should be. You can save some money on a survey if you limit the information, no topo lines, etc. Tell them it is for a fence, we were able to get a survey-lite and saved some money. Also, I second checking with your city about restrictions, often height and material, and getting a permit.

[mightymoo]

I second getting a survey, though you might try asking the current owners you are leasingtoown from if they have one or if they know of property markers.

My parents knew someone who didn't bother to get a survey and put a pool in turns out he put it on not one but 3 of his neighbors property. As I recall he was a jerk and the neighbors didn't like him, so they delighted in making him remove it.

I've never heard of you losing land because you didn't fence it (but of course everywhere is different), but you can lose it if someone else uses it notoriously for a period of time without your complaining. It's call 'adverse possession' and at least in MA the period is 20 years but its shorter elsewhere, but it can happen when people don't know their boundaries and the property changes hands a few times so assumptions are made. I have a friend who owns a farm in TN he inherited and just rents to local farmers, but he has to go back every few years and walk the boundaries because neighbors purposely fence in part of his land in an attempt to take it by adverse possession. When he confronts them they just say 'oh well I tried'.

Oh, and I wanted to add I'm a licensed real estate agent and a RE agent wouldn't be able to help you. They might be able to recommend someone though.

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by magpie mamma

You can save some money on a survey if you limit the information, no topo lines, etc. Tell them it is for a fence, we were able to get a survey-lite and saved some money.

How much, approx, does it run to have land surveyed?

DH and I definately want to fence in ALL of our property (well, what we can at least)... the neighbor kids have a huge problem with respecting personal property, plus we have a toddler and a dog that both need a safe place to run and play. This year we're just putting up a post and wire fence, but next year it's 6-foot privacy in back and 3-4 foot picket in front.

[PikkuMyy]

What you need to do is get the parcel number for the property. Then go to your tax assessor's office and you can look up the actual map which shows where the property lines are. We have a house with a big yarn but part of it is covered with blackberry bushes. There is a tiny parcel of land between our house and the neighbor's house that some poor sap bought at auction, not knowing that it's not big enough to do anything with. I guess he hopes that someday one of the neighbors will buy it from him.
Anyway, we're going to sell our house soon, so we'll need to measure the property so that we know where to stop cutting the blackberry and build a fence. Of course we'll have to cut some of the blackberry on his property as well or else it will just come right back over the fence and take over our yard again. Sigh!