Has your neighbor started building a fence that’s cutting into your property? Do you want to bring up the issue, but you’re unsure how?
Arguing with your neighbors over property lines can make living near them a nightmare—and you don’t want the argument to turn ugly before you have the chance to contact a good land surveyor. That’s why we’ve provided several tips on dealing with property line disputes.
Don’t let anger get the best of you
Even if you know you’re in the right, it’s always best to keep your emotions in check. Getting into a fiery argument over property lines could result in bad blood between neighbors. You don’t want to deal with years or even decades of constantly arguing with your neighbors over unimportant things. That’s why it’s important to stay calm when discussing your property line concerns with your neighbor.
Even if your neighbor starts raising their voice, try to keep the situation calm. Loud arguing will only make things much worse.
Research local laws
Every state has its own laws when it comes to property ownership. Consider doing some research on state law before bringing anything up with your neighbor. It’s best to know what you’re talking about before saying anything.
Hire a professional land surveyor
One of the best ways to determine the exact location of your property line is by hiring a professional land surveyor. Hiring a professional land surveyor will ensure there’s no guesswork when determining property lines. This will help save a lot of time in the long run.
Since a land surveyor can provide official documentation of property lines, hiring one could help avoid expensive legal fees as well. Do your research on local land surveyors in your area. Check their reviews, and make sure they have a lot of experience. Most land surveyors charge somewhere between $300 and $700 per job depending on where you live.
Contact an attorney
Usually, it’s best to solve these problems neighbor-to-neighbor as opposed to getting lawyers involved; however, this isn’t possible in some situations. If you’re unable to reach an agreement with your neighbor, get in touch with an attorney. A good attorney can offer you the best advice on the steps you should take to resolve a property line dispute.
As a last resort, your attorney might recommend filing a lawsuit against your neighbor. While this is sure to cause some bad blood between you and your neighbor, sometimes legal action is necessary.
Always do your best to solve property line disputes without a lawsuit, as these are always expensive and can last for a long time.
Need a land survey?
If you’re involved in a property line dispute or need a land survey for any other reason, contact the experts at D.G. Smyth & Co., Inc. We are licensed, highly experienced and offer a wide range of services, including boundary surveying, tank battery site mapping, subdivision mapping and much more. Our services are available to properties all over central Texas.