We bought our home 3 years ago, and up until now, I still do not know where our property ends and where my neighbor's begin. How can I locate the property marker, and what does it look like?

The newer, permament markers around here are a length of 1/2'' rebar driven in the ground with a yellow plastic cap with a identification number. The older ones are a length of larger galvanized pipe. They are driven in the exact corner of the lot. Start near where you think the corner is. Often the front marker will be 25' from the center of the road. If there are any fences, usually they are put up at least 6'' inside the owners property. If a marker has been driven below the surface, sometimes you can probe with a shovel and find it. A metal detector is better yet. Often the markers are lost. Utility companies are very careless about disturbing them.

Once you find one, you can measure and better know where find the rest.

I've usually seen a small iron stake used as a marker but not all properties have physical markers. If you already have a survey of the property then you can figure out the approximate location but if you want to know the exact location of your property lines you will need to have them physically marked by a surveyor.

When you bought your home and paid for a survey ( I am sure that you did do that, not merely go by old deed records) then merely ask the team that did your survey what they used.

Now assuming you did not do that, since it sounds like you did not ( and hope you don't find your garage on someone else's land) they were normally metal but long ago they were rock and normally get covered up under some dirt before long. Also lots of people like to plant little bushes by them to show them the line, thus hiding them.

If you try a metal detector you may find them if metal. If you can't and remember someone could have moved them years ago. You should have a new survey done and new markers put in place.

Yeah, I planted wegilea bush by mine. The electric company came by, destroyed my bush, uprooted the marker and cut a drain burying my neighbors service. None of the stuff they damaged was on the marked route. It took a while, but they paid for everything.

Mine is a little easier,

I have a corner lot, street on two sides and neighbor drive way on part of my other age ( already on my property when I bought it) had I known him then as I did now I would have made him move his drive.

My neighbor on the other side planted bushes by it, of course now the bush is aobut 4 foot around and can't see the markers any more.

Of course with a acre yard on the corner lot, give or take a foot or two who cares.

Sometimes builders will place a marker on the lot line in line with the house. That helps them establish side lot setback.

The house we bought never had a survery done on it. At least that was registered with the city. When we built our addition, we had to commission a survery.

Found out that my neighbors garden was on my property after all.

But, I did find that the metal bar my mower found when I cut (ok, scalped) the grass on the lot line is on the lot line.

Dan

Sometimes builders will place a marker on the lot line in line with the house. That helps them establish side lot setback.

The house we bought never had a survery done on it. At least that was registered with the city. When we built our addition, we had to commision a survery.

Found out that my neighbors garden was on my property after all.

But, I did find that the metal bar my mower found when I cut (ok, scalped) the grass on the lot line is on the lot line.

Dan


I think my neighbor's garden is on my property too. Because if I draw a straight line from the corner of my backyard fence to the line of sprinkler systems on our front yard, it would overlap with my neighbor's garden. The reason why I really want to find out our property marker is, my neighbor has been putting their yard trash on my side as well as their garbage can on trash collection day. I would never take advantage of new neighbors like that or any person. Just like when I walk my dog, I always bring a pooper scooper with me.

When I want to nib around my neighborhood, I reach for the dog leash. Your back marker may be fairly easy to find. If there is one, it should be a little outside the corner of the fence as I said originally. Unless you know the set back, front markers can be much harder. While walking your dog, look around in peoples front yards. You may spot one between 2 properties. Newly sold properties may sprout flags at each corner. Lots for sale may still have a wooden stake at each corner. Once you know how far back from the center of the street, it will make an existing one easier to find. It is quite common to drive them a little below the surface.

If you truly want to know, get a professional survey. I have 2 friends who wanted fences put up for their dogs. Told them to get a survey. Well, friend #1 found out he owns 1/4 of his neighbors driveway and about 1/3 of his back yard. Over the years every one just "squared up" their lots not realizing how wacked out the lot lines really are. They are finding out the whole neighborhood is like this.
Friend #2, almost the same thing, he found out the front yards go at an angle where the back yards are square. He owns 1/2 of his neighbors front yard. This is like this about 4 houses in a row. Everyone "owns" 1/2 of each others front yards. These are houses built back in the 50's. Again, everyone just squared up their lots.
So in case your wondering if your lot is really square, get it surveyed!