It's never about the "line"; is it....
I get a call from a lady; actually a guy down the beach from her. I had helped another surveyor do some work for him, about a year ago and he wanted to help out a friend.
She just needs to know, approximately, where her north line is, so she can plant some trees, on her side, for privacy from her neighbor.
She bought the property back in the 70's and got along great with her elderly neighbor. They helped each other out and shared the maintenance of the ground between their 2 properties.
Something happened and the neighbors house sat vacant for about 10 years. There was a land slide that took out the driveway. These are the only 2 houses at the end of a long, very steep driveway and my client enjoyed some quit solitude for a very long time.
The county ended up fixing the driveway and acquiring the neighbors property. They sold it to a younger couple for a bargain price and they now rent it out about half the time for $250 a night to anyone with money. You can see where this is going....
The renters park their cars where ever they want; they stay up all night, partying on the deck; they bring their dogs that bark and chase cats....you get the picture.
It's a long story, but the line between the 2 properties is anything but easy to define. I give it my best shot and put 3 stakes on about 100' of the line, from the beach to the toe of a very steep slope. The neighbor calls me: Are you sure that's where the line is? I mean; I have an electric light 10 feet on the other side; and now she won't let my guests access the beach; because she says that they have to climb down slippery rocks on her side and she doesn't want to be sued.
I'd like to help these people out but it's hard to find a compromise. She should have bought the property when it was cheap; he should have had it surveyed when he bought it; but none of that happened.
What should they do today?
TIA for any help you can give me...
Dougie
Some lines are ambiguous. There isn't always a Survey solution. Your role has shifted and you have decisions to make.
First you must deal with the stakes you placed. If they are correct defend them. It sounds like you have doubts. If so you need to shift gears quick.
Your role now depends on you. Are you comfortable trying to extract an agreement from the owners? Do you have the legal knowledge to structure an agreement? Your options are between referral to an Attorney and mediate an agreement. Only you can look in the mirror and choose correctly...