How do I find out the border of house?

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by aw_now_what

DIY with a tape measure wouldn't work here because of the property's slope. Lot measurements are done as if one is looking down from above and everything is flat.

Time to bust out that trigonometry you never thought you'd use.

[ki0eh]

DIY with a tape measure also doesn't work if you can't find the corners, there are crazy angles, trees/objects in the way, etc. DIY with an old transit can get interesting, what with reading the vernier and all.

[grep]

I thought you said your neighbors' property was flat? If they'll let you build a playset on it, they'll certainly let you measure it.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by grep

I thought you said your neighbors' property was flat? If they'll let you build a playset on it, they'll certainly let you measure it.

Maybe only their backyard is flat and the rest goes downhill towards the front of the house.

[Catia]

property survey should be less than $600 ***especially if you do not get it staked*** .

I just paid $500 to have a 1/3 acre surveyed & staked, a company out of White Oak, Deglua Engineering.

I personally feel that good fences make good neighbors, & $500 bucks is worth it by far, pennies over the next decades for PEACE of mind over borders. You wouldn't believe the problems that can arise by allowing neighbors to use your property-especially if you are erecting things like trampolines & kids playsets. This is a huge liability.

Honestly, the only reason NOT to get it done is if you are pretty sure the property that your VERY generous neighbors are saying to go ahead & use is not yours, then there is also the responsibility of maintenance, trees, retaining walls...the list goes on. Let's not even get into fences & pets & right of ways & lawsuits.

Mine was *NOT* an easy survey as the back of my property is a very steep slope-mountain hillside & barely walkable with cleats.

Get the survey before you get the trampoline-it's a much better investment.

I had made my closing contingent upon survey borders...Whatever you do--do NOT believe the GIS maps--they were more than 20 feet off in both directions on my property, & showed the property line coming thru the middle of the house.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Catia

I personally feel that good fences make good neighbors, & $500 bucks is worth it by far, pennies over the next decades for PEACE of mind over borders. You wouldn't believe the problems that can arise by allowing neighbors to use your property-especially if you are erecting things like trampolines & kids playsets. This is a huge liability.

Honestly, the only reason NOT to get it done is if you are pretty sure the property that your VERY generous neighbors are saying to go ahead & use is not yours, then there is also the responsibility of maintenance, trees, retaining walls...the list goes on. Let's not even get into fences & pets & right of ways & lawsuits.

Obviously his neighbor doesn't share your concerns.

Originally Posted by Catia

Whatever you do--do NOT believe the GIS maps--they were more than 20 feet off in both directions on my property, & showed the property line coming thru the middle of the house.

My girlfriend's property line goes through her living room in Regent Square. It happens when owning 150 year old houses.

[Catia]

As I typed above: "VERY generous neighbors", certainly this is NOT the issue. I thought I was clear on that.

The issue is the trampoline, & who's property it actually would be on.

The niceties stop the minute someone's child has an accidental fall off the trampoline, & the actual owners of the property face a lawsuit in this sue happy society. Kids are kids & sh*t happens.

Also is the fact that things like trampolines are a something that must be disclosed in a homeowners policy--it is usually one of the questions asked, along with do you have a pool, etc...

Not disclosing this trampoline on the property can get homeowners insurance dropped--& if there is an accident, & not covered by HOI, due to non disclosure, opens up a worse situation to the owner of the property, who risks losing a LOT. I'd personally not want to put my neighbor in that situation.

If it was the matter of using the unknown borders to plant a vegetable garden, or place a lounge chair, I'd have not even commented, a trampoline however is a liability, like having a pool, & requires a different level of responsibility, & accountability, it's not something you can just throw in without thought to who's property it is on.

The fact that the neighbor isn't concerned isn't the point, they may not be aware of the ramifications of having a trampoline & HOI. It would be a real shame for them to find out the hard way.