How to Determine Property Lines

When you look at your property, it's easy to imagine where the property lines might fall, based on the location of fences or the line where you stop mowing your lawn and your neighbor starts. However, the actual property lines may differ from appearances, and in some situations, property lines can become a point of contention between neighbors.

Whether you're looking to start an outdoor project, buy/sell a home, avoid conflict with neighbors, or simply know exactly where the property line lies for potential future projects, taking the time to determine your property lines is a must-do for any responsible homeowner. But how do you do it? Our REALTORS® are here to help, with a guide to determining the property lines for your home.

• Why It's Important to Know Your Property Lines
  For most homeowners, backyard projects and good relationships with neighbors are both important parts of owning a home... so you wouldn't want one to get in the way of the other. Determining property lines makes it easier to work on projects on the edge of your property, without worrying whether you're encroaching on your neighbor's land, or worse having to start a project all over because you started building without knowing the boundaries. Building a pool, fence, or other projects in the wrong place can be costly, and cause conflict in the neighborhood, so it's better to learn exactly where property lines lie.

• How Property Lines Are Established
  Let's say you're shopping for Mansfield homes for sale, or already own a home in the area. Since Mansfield is a city with a long history, your property lines were originally established when your neighborhood was first developed. While that doesn't make it any easier to determine property lines with your own "eye test," it does mean that your property lines are documented and can be researched at our government offices.

• Finding Your Property Lines through Documentation
  Your property lines, whenever they were established, are a matter of record, so the easiest way to determine your property lines is to know where to look them up. You may find information about property lines on the deed to the property, with measurements for how to walk the property line from a close-by point of reference. You can also visit your local assessor's or planning office and view a plat map, which shows the precise location of each parcel of land in the neighborhood. However, translating the information you learn from the deed or plat map can be challenging, if you're not trained to interpret it.

• Hiring a Surveyor to Determine Property Lines
  Since it can be hard to determine property lines on your own even when you have the right information, many homeowners choose to hire a professional surveyor to handle the task. A professional surveyor can chart precise measurements to locate the legal boundaries of the property, and the positions of any improvements made to the property. The surveyor will then typically leave stakes, flags, or other physical indicators on the corners of the property, to provide a point of reference. Hiring a professional surveyor can help you determine property lines when you're thinking about buying a piece of land, or when you're planning improvements to a property that you already own.

Are you ready to start thinking about the property lines for a new home in the area? Our team is here to help you find the right home. Contact Haring Realty to buy and sell homes throughout the Mansfield, OH area.