It’s important to know where your property lines are when you are planning improvements to your home. You don’t want to build a fence, driveway, swimming pool, garage, or other structure on your neighbor’s property. You also don’t want to plant a hedge, tree, or landscaping on your neighbor’s property rather than your own.
Knowing where your property lines are before you start is a great way to prevent problems later, especially if it helps you avoid encroaching on a neighbor’s property. Here are ways to do it.
- Check for boundary markers. If your home is newly built, it may be easy to find survey pins or other property markers still in place.
- Check your deed. Your deed includes a description of your property and its boundaries. You may have a copy of your deed in your records. You can check your deed at your county recorder’s office too. Some counties have these records online.
- Check your plat map. Often when you buy a home, you also receive a copy of the plat map which shows the property lines for your home and other homes in your neighborhood. Your county assessor’s office should have a copy of your plat map too. Some counties have these records online.
- Check with your lender. Your lender may have required a survey before they approved your mortgage.
- Check with your title company. Your title company may have gotten a property survey as part of its title search.
- Check online. You may also be able to find property lines with online platforms such as LandGlide or Regrid. These platforms may charge you a fee or require a subscription.
Are property line records always accurate?
Deeds and other public records may not always contain accurate descriptions of your property lines. For example, the description of a property line in your deed may not agree with the description of the property line in your neighbor’s deed. It’s possible your plat map will not agree with your deed. Online platforms may not be accurate either. As a result, consider getting a professional survey.
Think about hiring a professional surveyor to find your property lines
You might consider hiring a professional surveyor to find your property lines before you begin expensive projects like building an addition to your home or a new structure on your land. A surveyor will find your property lines by researching records and reviewing the history of the property. The cost of this survey can range from $300 to $700 depending on the size, location, and history of the property. But this cost can be worth it if it helps you avoid problems later.
Last reviewed and updated November 2022 by Freedom Mortgage Corporation.
