If you own or are buying a home or plot of land, you probably think you know where the property ends and your neighbor’s property begins. Perhaps there is a fence or row of shrubs between the two to informally designate the land line.
Unfortunately, these types of unspoken property lines are often incorrect. The only way to truly know where your land in Idaho ends is to get boundary surveys completed. Many homebuyers scoff at the thought of paying to have a property’s boundaries verified, but they may come to regret that decision years down the road.
But what can actually happen if you neglect to conduct a boundary survey in Idaho? In the best-case scenario, nothing will happen. But in the worst, you could owe hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to your neighbor, another private landowner or even the government, as well as have to endure a headache-inducing litigation process.
Neighborly disputes
One of the most common problems homeowners run into regarding property boundaries is getting into a dispute with a residential neighbor over the true boundary line of the two properties. If you want to build a fence or another structure on what you and your neighbor both believe is your own land, one of you might not be too happy.
If you mistakenly build something on your neighbor’s property because you aren’t aware of the exact boundary lines, your neighbor could sue you. You might end up in a frustrating legal dispute and may need to move or even remove the fence or structure entirely because it isn’t on your property. Aside from causing problems with your neighbors, this can be very costly.
Misunderstanding your property
If you’re purchasing a home or land and opt against having a boundary survey done, you may be in for some surprises later. Without proof of boundary lines, you may not be getting the same sized property as what you’re paying for! If you find this out years later, there’s little you can do to fix the mistake.
If you try to sell the property later and it is discovered that the boundaries are different than you believed, it could affect the property value. Or, if you purchase a plot of land without getting boundary surveys in Idaho and build a home, it may be unveiled that part or all of your home is actually built on property that isn’t yours! Your home may sit on a residential neighbor’s land, or even a plot of land owned by the government.
Additionally, boundary surveys in Idaho can protect you from being fined for ignoring zoning laws or violating easements. Without knowing where the edge of your land ends, you may build your home too close to another building or to public property, increasing the risk of penalties or fines.
Contact the experts
The risks of not having a boundary survey done are just too high to be ignored. When you’re purchasing property, call Mason & Associates. Our civil engineering and surveying company offers boundary surveys in Idaho for a variety of project types.