One of the most common issues that arises among neighboring landowners is determining where the property line falls. For years, people across the country have found themselves in disputes over a range of plots, from an acre of land to just a few feet of yard. But, depending on where you live, most of these disputes are, typically, settled quite easily, especially if both parties are in a cooperative mood. But if you find yourself in a situation where a neighbor is disputing your land’s property line, here are steps you should take.
Be polite and remain civil.
The fact that your neighbor is, essentially, saying that you might be encroaching on property, that indicates that he/she is already in a confrontational mood. Responding with anger or contempt will only escalate the situation, and a cool head will help to resolve the issue much more quickly.
Familiarize yourself with the laws.
Each state has different property line laws and certain cities will have their own specific legislation for property lines. Familiarizing yourself with the laws will allow you to better understand your specific situation and what you need to do to handle it.
Try reasoning with your neighbor.
Hiring surveyors and getting different authorities involved to solve this problem could take a long time and might exacerbate the situation. If at all possible, try reasoning with your neighbor to reach some sort of an agreement. After determining the details of the property line with your neighbor, you can work with an attorney to sign a deed to detail the specific perimeters of the land. This is the quickest way to settle the dispute and can help you save you time and possibly money.
Hire a surveyor.
Another relatively quick way to resolve the issue is to hire a surveyor. A surveyor’s primary job is to determine the boundaries of any property by making exact measurements. Hiring one, unfortunately, won’t be cheap, but it is one way to get documentation and establish the actual property lines between you and your neighbor’s land. For further information visit https://www.garlandlandsurveying.com/
Hire a mediator.
A less expensive method is to hire a mediator. You can hire a mediator from different places, such as the police station, local courthouse or local bar association. This will provide a third party that is neutral to help you and your neighbor find a middle ground in regards to the issue.
File a lawsuit.
One of the more confrontational responses you could have is to file a lawsuit. This is an extremely expensive and time-consuming method that should only be considered when all other options have been exhausted.