Get out your measuring tape
Most homeowners can get a basic understanding of their property dimensions with a 25-foot measuring tape, a copy of the tax assessor rolls -- a public record of taxable property issued by the assessor’s office -- and a little common sense.
If the assessor’s map shows straight boundaries, and a property’s buildings or fences meander, something’s not right, said Allan Rigg, director of planning and public works for Palos Verdes Estates. Simply measuring along the property line will typically show if there’s a big discrepancy.
“If a property is supposed to be 100 feet in depth and the steel tape reveals a fence that is 110 feet long,” Rigg said, “that should raise suspicion.”
Without an adjacent private property owner, free-standing fences are more likely to be incorrectly placed.
To be sure of lot boundaries, buyers should ask about the four corners of a property. To determine the boundaries, look for metal survey pins or brightly colored markers at property corners or where the land turns.
Another important thing to check is the disclosure portion of your closing papers -- particularly when buying an older home that backs up to a hill, park, path, trail, forest area or storm drain channel or culvert.
A title insurance report is an excellent tool for catching illegal encroachments recorded against the property, said Bryan Riggs, president of Riggs & Riggs Inc. real estate appraisers and consultants in Simi Valley. Pay careful attention to the schedule B section, the portion of the policy that shows requirements and anything not covered. Ask the title officer to go through the documents and clarify anything you don’t understand.
Professional land surveys can help determine boundary lines, encroachments and whether the deed accurately reflects the property. Costs range from about $800 to $3,000 on a new land survey and will depend on a variety of factors, such as the shape and size of the parcel and the availability of survey markers. A property on winding streets with irregular boundaries will cost more to survey than a home on a rectangular parcel.
The cost of a survey, Riggs said, “would certainly outweigh the cost they may have paid for that parcel thinking they had another 3,000 square feet of land area at $200 a foot.”
To find out more about a property or view local assessment rolls, call or visit the county assessor’s office:
* To contact the Los Angeles County office of the assessor, call (213) 974-3211; or go to www.lacountyassessor.com.
* To contact the Orange County assessor, call (714) 834-2727; or go to www.ocgov.com/assessor.
-- Michelle Hofmann
