Most of the properties here in Staten Island are pretty well defined. But there are some properties where it can be difficult to tell – at least from a legal perspective – when the property line begins and when it ends. That can be a problem, because you often need to know your property line to:
- Establish physical boundaries, like fences.
- Calculate your total property square footage.
- See who is legally responsible for various issues, like pipe damage, downed trees, etc.
If you don’t truly know your property lines, then you’re missing very important information about your property and its boundary lines. What can you do?
How People Figure Out Their Boundaries
These are things you do not want to leave to the eye test, because they are legally important. For example, we worked with a property that had a log and garden that clearly showed the boundary from one property and another – only to find that it didn’t. The garden encroached, ever so slightly on the individual’s property boundary.
Now, the homeowner didn’t care. But the issue here is that future homeowners can care. What happens if someone is injured in the garden? Who is responsible? What happens if someone wants to add a fence? What part of the property gets destroyed/fenced in?
They may see, like minor issues now, but a few inches can make a big difference, and so establishing property lines becomes especially important. To do that, consider the following:
- Reviewing existing documentation. Property lines may have already been documented in other boundary disputes, home sales, etc., and you may be able to access that information from public record.
- Check the deed. Your deed should be able to tell you exactly what land belongs to you and how to identify your property boundaries.
- Request a surveyor. For more detailed data, you can contact a surveyor, whose job it is to establish boundaries using visual, aerial, and other information.
It is NOT recommended, however, that you try to figure out your boundaries yourself. Remember, all it takes is an inch to dramatically affect your property, and you cannot typically establish that inch with the eye test alone. Calling on a professional can be worthwhile.
While there is a cost associated with a survey, it is typically much lower than the legal or financial consequences of a boundary dispute or construction error.
Before we do any task on the exterior of your property, like masonry, make sure you know your boundaries. If you’re not sure, let us know, and we’ll talk to you about next steps and who you might want to contact.
