Regardless if you’re a buyer, seller, or agent, you need to know the exact details about any property you’re interested in dealing with. There’s no faster way to get in trouble with your neighbors than by selling or modifying what isn’t yours.
Of course, the best way to prevent these issues is to find exactly where your property lines are, and one of the most tempting sources is Google Maps. But is something so convenient also reliable?
No. Google Maps are not that accurate, and you shouldn’t rely on them as a source for factual information regarding property lines.
Much like a plat map, they only provide a general idea of where property lines exist. As with plat maps, there are discrepancies in terms of accuracy. Property lines shown on these platforms are known to be more than several feet off their actual location.
Not only that, but Google Maps does not show any easements that might exist on a property. If you’re not familiar, an easement grants another individual or entity access to a portion of your property. If you ignore this and build on top of an easement, you might wind up having to relocate or tear down the structure that exists there.
The last thing you need to know is that Google Maps does not show property lines in all areas. You should check to verify if they are available to you, but they are likely unavailable in many rural areas.
However inaccurate or misleading Google Maps can be, it does serve as a great point of reference. If you’re just trying to get a general idea of where property lines exist, it can serve as a helpful tool that will save you a trip to the local town hall.
If you need accurate details regarding property lines, you should enlist the help of a property line survey. You should also always have a title company perform a proper title search to find if any easements exist on the property and have a survey conducted to locate them before you purchase or build on any plot of land.
There’s nothing wrong with using Google Maps to get a general idea of where property lines are, but only if you don’t rely on them as a concrete source. To do so, you’ll want to follow the steps below.
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