Had a similar experience with one of my rental properties. Thought I knew exactly where the property line was until the neighbor casually mentioned their shed might be "a little" over. Turned out "a little" meant nearly two feet... lesson learned, always double-check those lines before buying or building anything major.
Property lines can be surprisingly tricky, even when you think you've got it all figured out. Had a client once who discovered their fence was actually built several feet onto their neighbor's land—talk about awkward conversations... Did you end up having to move the shed, or were you able to work something out with your neighbor? Curious how flexible people usually are in these situations.
Had a similar situation come up with a client a while back. His garage was actually built partially over the neighbor's line, and they only found out when the neighbor went to sell their house. Luckily, both parties were pretty reasonable, and instead of tearing down or moving anything, they worked out an easement agreement. Took some negotiating (and a bit of paperwork), but it saved everyone money and headaches in the end... might be something worth looking into if your neighbor's open to it.
"Luckily, both parties were pretty reasonable, and instead of tearing down or moving anything, they worked out an easement agreement."
That's definitely the best-case scenario, but honestly, I'd be cautious about relying too heavily on neighborly goodwill. Even if your current neighbors are great, you never know who might move in later and challenge the arrangement. Have you considered getting a professional survey done to clarify exactly where your property lines fall? Might cost a bit upfront, but it's probably worth the peace of mind long-term...
