What To Do When a Neighbor Crosses Your Property Line

By Thai Nguyen

Real Estate Broker, Investor, Coach and Visionary – Thai has seen it all, inspiring and helping thousands of people in the process. Her high attention to detail and her drive has catapulted her to over $375 Million in overall Real Estate sales in her 20-year career.

What do you do if your neighbor is encroaching on your property? I’ve been through this process with clients before, and I want to walk you through exactly what to do if you suspect your neighbor is encroaching on your lot. Here’s a step-by-step process you can follow:

1. Start by hiring a surveyor. A licensed surveyor will come out and measure your property based on your county records. They’ll draw up a diagram that marks the exact borders of your lot and place physical stakes or markers on the ground. This step gives you a solid, recorded lot line that shows exactly where your property begins and ends. Without it, everything is just guesswork.

2. Document what’s happening. Once your property lines are clearly marked, start taking pictures. Snap photos or even take a short video showing exactly where your neighbor’s stuff, like a fence, a driveway, or a boat, is crossing the line. Save all of it because it’s important to have a clear record before starting any conversations.

3. Talk to your neighbor respectfully. Now, here comes the important part: be nice. I know it can be frustrating, but approach your neighbor calmly. Even something simple like, “Hey, I had a survey done and it looks like part of your fence is on my lot, but I’d love to work this out,” can go a long way. Most of the time, people are willing to talk things through once they see the facts.

4. Send a certified letter. If they’re not open to talking or just flat-out ignore you, the next step is to write a letter. Keep it professional but still friendly. In the letter, explain what the surveyor found and include a copy of the survey itself. You can even suggest a possible solution. Send it via certified mail so there’s a record of it. Then, give it a couple of weeks and see if they respond.

5. Bring in a real estate attorney if needed. If you’ve done all of that and there’s still no progress, it’s time to call in a real estate attorney. They’ll help make sure your property line is legally protected and guide you through the next steps. And if you don’t know a great attorney, reach out to me. I’m happy to connect you with someone who can help.

Why surveys matter. A few years ago, I helped a client buy a lakefront property with a gate that connected the lake to their house. We assumed it was part of the property, but it turned out to be a community gate, and strangers were using it regularly. My client wanted it removed, but couldn’t because it was legally part of the community. A survey would have uncovered that early on and saved a lot of trouble.

From experience, if you are buying an estate-sized lot, typically around half an acre to a full acre, a survey is essential. It may cost between $2,000 and $4,000, but it can prevent a lot of stress and unanswered questions down the road.

In the end, the key is to approach the situation calmly and methodically. Most of these issues can be resolved with a little communication and the right documents. And if you need help finding a surveyor or a great attorney, I’m just a message away. Don’t hesitate to reach out and send an email to soldbythairealestate@gmail.com. I’m happy to help.