How accurate is a property line survey?

[MikePA]

Yes. The information "pappy19" provided here not only gave me hope but help me find all the facts and where to look for help. Now I learned that a licensed land surveyor is not god. He's humand and made mistakes just like anyone else. Some are just plain criminals and unethical.

I'm glad you're hopeful and it's good to know surveyors are not gods.

The complaint form indicates;

• "The Board does not have the staff to investigate inquiries based only upon suspicion or speculation."
• "Be sure to provide copies of ALL DOCUMENTS about your complaint, including plans, drawings, calculations, maps, reports, plan check comments, letters, contracts, and invoices. Before mailing your complaint, make an extra copy of everything for your own files because we cannot return the documents once the investigation is completed."

Do you have a copy of the survey, the name of the surveyor and something in writing that indicates they told you your fence is 3 inches over the property line?

• "Investigation of a complaint is often a lengthy process. Cases submitted to the Division of Investigation, a Technical Advisory Committee member, and/or a technical expert may require additional time to complete."

The form reads like it's primarily used to file a complaint about a surveyor who did work for you. Good luck with your protest anyway. Stay hopeful.

 

[schmism]

How accurate is a property line survey?

The surveying company my wife works for will certify there survey to withing 0.01 of a foot. (little better than +-1/8 of an inch)

 

[Eagleview]

Ide be carefull of what i said on this forum if it was me . If he has been alerted to this thread he would be smugly taking notes to use against you .

 

[Podunkadunk]

I spewed coffee all over the screen! Bravo! Bravo! WarrenF!!!!

AWWW heck....simply call up your local TV Station and tell the reporter your tale of woe. Make sure you have not shaved in a day or two, and wear some fairly grubby looking clothing, when they come out to interview you.
Tell them about your large wife and family you have to support and how this money grubbing millionaire is threatening to sue you over THREE INCHES of land. You might even wonder out loud how you can afford to buy milk for your children. Tell them with a tear in your eye how it was that very fence that attracted you and the wife to this home TWENTY TWO YEARS AGO. Make sure you show them some notches on the fence where you tracked the growth of your kids....and where the dog chased a cat through the rails. Maybe make your hands shake all the time they are there, so they can see the STRESS this tussle has created in you. Have the wife show up for the interview with her mascara smeared...tell the TV Station how she can't sleep anymore and her eyes are stained so badly from crying and her mascara running.

Then sit back and wait. If you finally get to court go to court the same way.

Seriously, don't fold because of a threatened lawsuit!!! I know some have chastised you for your answer. Were it me and someone threatened me with a lawsuit, I would tell them to first of all get in line....and please come to my house and use my phone to call your attorney. Then just sit and watch. Remember you are now playing poker. Don't fold to early and don't show your aces too soon. I would bet he is simply trying to bluff you.

 

[charlz]

I think Charlesaf3 has the right read on the situation. You are getting encroached on and don't like it. Neighbor builds a big fancy house, I'm sure that 30 year old wooden fence doesn't 'go' with his place. He calls on a fishing expedition to see if he can save a little money on a new fence. You are already mad about what is going on in the area and instead of politely declining you proceed to make him mad. So he is doing 'back at ya' and jerking your chain hard.

Best thing to do is to, quite literally, see things from his side of the fence and try and work together on a solution.

 

[MikePA]

When choosing language, please remember TBN is a Family Friendly Site.

 

[Jimbrown]

I'm bettinthe guy don't give a dinky do about the fence but that his wife does. " Honey we are not going to have to look at that auful fence ARE WE.

 

[hayden]

The surveying company my wife works for will certify there survey to withing 0.01 of a foot. (little better than +-1/8 of an inch)

Pretty much all modern survey instruments will give readouts to 1/100 foot, but I wouldn't count on it being that accurate in practice. Trying to hold a prism pole plumb will likely introduce more error than 1/100 foot into each measurement.

 

[concerned homeowner]

I am a homeowner and my neighbor has a fence up and when he cuts his grass he comes on my side of my property moves my sign that says no trespassing and cut my grass and replaces my sign. I would like to know what I can do to keep him off my property. I can't afford a surveyor to come and survey the property so I am in need of any answers to what I can do to stop this from happening......Please give me your thoughts on what I can do.

Thanks
concerned homowner

 

[dmccarty]

Welcome to TBN.

You can try to find the corner pins in the lot. Likely the the pins have been hammered below grade. If you have access to a metal detector you can find them.

Your county might have a GIS office where you can see the lot lines overlaid on an areal photo. This should get you close to the pins.

A survey company might come out and locate the pins for you as well. Heck, you might be able to rent a metal detector somewhere on the Internet.

Later,
Dan