I can definitely relate to the fuzzy property line headaches. When we bought our place, the deed description was so vague it literally said something like "from the old oak tree to the stone marker near the creek." Problem was, no one knew which oak or stone marker they meant...and of course, there were about five trees and a dozen rocks that fit the bill.
"Turns out 'a few feet' was more like ten, and suddenly our veggie garden was technically on their property."
We ended up doing exactly what you did—splitting the cost of a professional survey with our neighbor. It felt awkward at first, but honestly, it saved us from a lot of potential drama down the road. Now we have clear markers and an official map filed with the county. Definitely worth it for peace of mind alone.
Glad your tomatoes made it through unscathed. Ours weren't so lucky—had to relocate half our raised beds after the survey came back. Lesson learned: always double-check before building anything permanent near a boundary line...
Haha, your deed seriously said "old oak tree"? That sounds like something straight out of a pirate treasure map...did you check for buried gold while you were at it?
We just bought our first place last year, and I swear the property lines feel more like suggestions than actual boundaries. Our realtor kept saying "it's roughly here," and I'm thinking, roughly? Like, how rough are we talking? A foot? Ten feet? Enough to accidentally build my future chicken coop on the neighbor's yard?
Glad you got it sorted without too much drama. Sucks about your raised beds though—I would've cried moving all that dirt. But hey, at least now you know exactly where your land ends and theirs begins. Maybe celebrate by planting some tomatoes right on the line...just to keep things interesting?
• Honestly, property lines can be a total mess—especially in older neighborhoods. I've seen deeds referencing rocks, trees, even "the old fence post" that's been gone for decades.
• Good call on double-checking boundaries before building anything permanent. Had a friend who built a shed based on "rough" estimates...ended up having to move it 6 feet over. Not fun.
• At least now you're clear and can plant those tomatoes confidently. Maybe toss in some peppers too—neighbors love peppers, right?
Property lines can definitely get messy, especially with older deeds—I totally agree there. But honestly, even modern surveys aren't always foolproof. When we refinanced last year, our lender required an updated survey, and it turned out the previous one we'd relied on for years was off by a good three feet. Not a huge deal for gardening, but it could've been if we'd put in a fence or patio.
Also, just a heads-up: even if you're confident now, it's worth double-checking local zoning or HOA rules before planting anything too close to the property line. Tomatoes and peppers are usually harmless enough, but some neighborhoods have weird restrictions about plant height or garden placement near boundaries. Learned that one the hard way when we had to relocate a raised bed after someone complained... wasn't fun moving all that dirt around. Better safe than sorry, right?
"even modern surveys aren't always foolproof"
Yeah, totally agree there. Had a similar issue myself—bought a house a few years back, and everything seemed fine until we decided to build a shed in the backyard. Pulled the permits, did everything by the book, and then boom, neighbor comes out waving an old survey saying we're encroaching by almost two feet. Turns out, the survey we got at closing wasn't quite accurate either.
Here's what I learned from the whole mess:
1. Never fully trust the first survey—double-checking with another professional can save headaches later.
2. Keep a clear record of any property-related documents (permits, surveys, zoning approvals) in case disputes arise.
3. And yeah, zoning rules can be weirdly specific. My town even has rules about how close sheds can be to fences or property lines, not just gardens.
Honestly, property ownership can feel less like owning and more like navigating through layers of bureaucracy sometimes...
