Horrible "How To" surveying advice

[pls7809]

http://www.ehow.com/how_6080161_check-property-lines-yourself.html#ixzz1W3VRWKiS


For many home-improvement projects--building fences, additions, sheds and other structures--it's essential to know where your property lines are. Anything that crosses over property lines can become the property of the homeowner next door, or she can require you to take down anything that crosses that line. Finding and identifying the property lines for your lot usually is not very difficult. Larger properties, such as farms or historic homes, may require a surveyor. In most cases, though, all you need are a few simple tools and a plat, or map, to check your home's property lines yourself.

Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions
Things You'll Need
Rolling tape measure
Compass
Wooden stakes
String or twine
Mallet or hammer

Get what you need for every
project at HomeDepot.com
1
Find the plat for your property. This is a map that comes with measurements of your property. If you did not receive one with your closing documents at the time of sale, access your plat at the county tax assessor's office. It may be in a plat box or on microfiche, depending on the archive system in your county.

2
See if there is a house location survey for your property. Most newer homes will have turned this in with their building permit application--go to the local government agency responsible for issuing building permits in your area. The survey lays out where the house is in relation to the property lines, so all you have to do is to measure from the corner of the house straight out to the property line.

3
Refer to the legal description on your deed if neither a plat nor a house location survey is available. The legal description should have measurements and directions for your lot.

4
Identify one of the corners on your plat or the starting corner on your deed's legal description. The edge of the lot for newer homes may still be marked on the street curb. You can also use utility pipes or boxes as a guide, since they are typically placed on or alongside a property line.

5
Find the benchmark for your neighborhood if you do not have an indication where one of the corners is. A benchmark is a stone marker that is used as a point of reference for locating the first point on a deed description. The corner is noted as beginning a particular distance and direction from the benchmark.

6
Start the rolling tape measure at the first corner and walk the distance dictated on the plat or on the deed. You may need to use the compass to give you the proper angle if it is not a line that is perpendicular to the curb. Stake the original start point and tie string around the stake, trailing the string behind you as you walk, to delineate the property line.

7
Look for a stake or a pipe. These are commonly used markers for the corners of property. You may even see neon tape remnants still on trees along the line or above the marker. Wind the string around the existing stake or insert a new one.

8
Follow the plat or deed description along the distance noted using the tape measure and string to the third and fourth points.

9
Go along the street back to your original starting point, making sure it is the distance noted on your plat or description. If it is, or it is very close, you'll know you got the other points right.



Read more: How to Check Property Lines Yourself | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6080161_check-property-lines-yourself.html#ixzz1WRQbNtTC

[hellsangle]

Good find, Ryan!

More advertisements and advise like this . . . and our profession and the law profession may have more work than we'll be able to handle!

(Unfortunately, the Do It Yourself surveyor's Homeowner's insurance will kick in to defend him/her when he/she is found wrong.)

Did you notice all the "links" to legal advise? Ha! Got to hand it to the Sharks - they're clever!

Phil

[land butcher]

LOL

Like the local hilly city that told my client that she didn't need a surveyor just take this assessors map and a shovel and dig at the corners shown and you will find your corner.

[dmi]

I have not been able to get traction on this complaint, that is several years old now. SERVICE MAGIC and a few other internet companies are basically internet advertising companies that bundle services like house painters and and land surveyors. You pay them to post you info and you pay them for client leads. They crowd out almost everyone else looking at natural search results. They are behind this EHOW stuff. This is just appalling, but hey I read it on the internet must be true, now where is that twine got me some surveying to do...

[Gromatici]

I like how it's listed as "moderately easy".

[surveysays]

"A benchmark is a stone marker that is used as a point of reference for locating the first point on a deed description. The corner is noted as beginning a particular distance and direction from the benchmark."

Yeah right. I have never seen a "stone" monument used for a center-line BC, EC ect. monument. And I hope your property is not on a curve. Otherwise it's great comedy.....

[leenicole]

If it really was "moderately easy" then nobody needs to go get a degree to be a land surveyor. Next time, I'll just go to e-how and look land surveying up. sheesh.

[btaylor]

I am so jealous people have this service, whereas I spent years developing an understanding of this profession.

I WASTED SO MUCH TIME.

[pls7809]

Great News - The CLSA Central office just informed me that this article was removed.

I clicked the link and it's not there, unless they moved it somewhere else.

[PPereira]

If indeed it has been removed, GREAT JOB!

[ca_surveyor]

I don't think all information has been removed. Here's a quick example that I just searched and found.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4763757_homes-property-lines.html

[pls7809]

You are right. I also searched "Property lines" on the site and got all kinds of results.