I recently purchased a new construction home in North Carolina on a little under a quarter acre, and I'm looking to put a fence in the backyard. I have a plot plan that shows the area, but I was advised to get an as-built survey to confirm property lines before proceeding. Survey companies are quoting me between $500 to $800 for this service. I'm considering putting the fence a few feet inside what I believe is the property line, but someone mentioned I might risk losing ownership of the land outside the fence due to adverse possession. I'm curious—would you recommend getting a survey, or do you think my plan to build the fence a bit inside the line is okay? Thanks!
6 Answers
Honestly, a survey is worth the investment. I’ve seen too many neighbors build fences only to find out they were on the wrong side of the line, which ended up costing them. Better safe than sorry!
I’d say get the survey. It can save you lots of headaches! You never know what the builder might have done with the property lines, and it’s not worth the risk of having to move your fence later because of inaccuracies.
I’d definitely recommend getting a survey done before building the fence. It’s better to know your exact property lines upfront rather than risk disputes with neighbors later.
It’s smart to do the survey and talk to your neighbors about your plans. If everyone’s on board, you might even get them to chip in for the cost. Just also make sure to read about adverse possession; it’s something to keep in mind but shouldn't be a major concern in most cases.
You could also ask your neighbor for a copy of their survey or plot plan. If there’s any overlap, it can lead to real headaches, like what happened to me years ago when my property line didn't match up with my neighbor's. A professional survey saved me a lot of trouble back then!
You really should have markers at the corners of your property. They should be pretty easy to spot since they often have brightly colored caps. If you find them, that'll help a lot!
Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely seriously consider getting the survey.