Yards are in high demand, and so much of a home’s value comes down to the amount of earth it’s situated on. Property lines, therefore, are hugely important to the sale and purchase of a home. Below, experts share their suggestions for figuring out exactly where your lines are and why that’s so important to know.
While they’re usually precisely spelled out in written documents, determining where property lines are physically while staring at a plot of land can be a bit tricky. To start, you can look for this information on the plat map, a drawing of the property’s boundaries, or in the deed, notes Realtor Andrew Pasquella. “Older homes generally had property line information written in the deed but often were based on landmarks that may have shifted or even disappeared or language that may not be clear to the layman today,” he says.
Pasquella recommends that a homeowner has a professional survey company come in and do a property line survey. “This is the surefire method to determine where your boundaries are,” he says, adding that “The company will put down fresh markers so you, and your neighbors, will be able to see them.”
Property lines are important for several reasons.
“It is important for a seller to know where their property lines are and what the property size is, because you are selling that property and you do not want to misrepresent [it],” says Debra Goodwin, an agent in New York. “Also, just in case a neighbor decides to build a fence or shed close to your property, you do not want them encroaching upon your property.”
She adds, “As a buyer, you want to know where your property begins and ends and make sure there is no one claiming any portion of that property. Also, if there are large trees or something that is a potential liability, you want to know if it is your responsibility up front.”
Finally, as a property owner, you’ll need to know these parameters should you decide to modify your property by adding onto your home, building decks or patios, or installing fences.
Click here to read the full article by Kristine Gill for Better Homes & Gardens.
