Be Clear about your Property’s Boundaries to Avoid Issues
If you’re in the process of buying a recreational property, there are certainly plenty of details to keep track of. But here’s one that’s particularly important: Be sure the tract has clear, well-established property corners before you buy it.
As a story on LandThink.com describes, unclear information about property corners can lead to issues with your new neighbors, or if you decide to sell the property someday. The story recommends using the services of a reputable surveyor to ensure that the corners are where you think they are.
We have an even better idea: Work with an experienced recreational real estate expert like the ones in the PotlatchDeltic Preferred Broker Network. This real estate pro, in turn, can work with a trusted surveyor to give you peace of mind, just as they can work with you to learn about such details as access to utilities and information on the timber and wildlife on the property.
In addition to the tips in the LandThink.com story, we would offer three more key things to remember:
- don’t assume fences are boundaries;
- don’t take the seller’s “word” for where the lines/corners are without some proof;
- make sure you fully understand the legal description of the tract and how that sits on the property.
The LandThink.com story also offers some good tips on protecting your property from neighbors or the public, such as planting “screening cover” along the edges of a tract.
Another good idea: If you are planning to put in some roads, consider putting some roads around the borders of your land, which can help create a buffer from trespassers.
As a side note, it’s important to know that best practices related to fencing and boundaries may be different if a property is in one of the areas of the West designated as “open range”. In these areas, it is the responsibility of a private owner to fence grazing animals out of their property, not the other way around.
As the heat of summer wears on, it isn’t too early to think about fall, a great time to get outdoors. Contact one of PotlatchDeltic’s Preferred Brokers to start the process, so you can have your own home base for activities by the holidays.
ARTICLE LINK: https://www.landthink.com/property-lines-boundaries-integral-part-of-management/