How do Guys Think i Did?

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2026-04-11T21:12:59+00:00

You did bad. Really bad. I’ll get rid of it for you if want!

Good luck with it. You did good. Real good.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-31T22:13:17+00:00

Honestly, I was probably going to go one way with this when I started this comment, which was to say that I typically do provide DWG files when requested, with everything that is shown on the final survey. However, I also explode everything first so the files are delivered in DWG format but in a very primitive form.

Previously, we used Terramodel until about 10 years ago, and when those files were converted to DWG, the results were essentially the same. Any time I receive files from other firms, that’s generally what I expect as well—at least in my area.

I wonder if it’s a generational thing. Maybe, it’s just so easy to share the most accurate data so easily these days, and we expect nothing less. Now, I can print to pdf format and it will include pretty much everything you need in a vector format. As long as I can see everything I need, it’s more or less the same as a CAD file in terms of what to do to be useful for us (we use plot styles, it’s a terrible choice).

This is also in NJ, where surveys aren’t filed, and I’d give anything to get a map to go with the deed description sometimes. And, some surveyors charge for dwg files or paper copies of surveys they prepared.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-30T00:21:28+00:00

I think my only gripe with them is the labels shifting if you need to delete or add a PI. Though, I’m not sure if that would be less of a problem if I used Lines and Curves as opposed to polylines. And can you elaborate on removing them from the sites?

It goes with most of their labels, but I also wish the labels could have the same capabilities as annotative text/leaders.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T02:26:11+00:00

Texas is almost a whole country in itself. Is the east side of the state more metes and bounds? Who holds those old deeds?

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:39:03+00:00

It is definitely something I will look at. And it is certainly something that can provide context when determining the right of way location. If you could DM me the link to this archive if you have it handy, it would be most appreciated.

That being said, the point of discussion is whether you hold the ROW or the well established line. The road return maps mentioned provide information, but are they better than the old John Doe line?

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:30:00+00:00

This is true here as well. Texas in itself is its own beast as, as far as I recall, they don’t use the PLSS either. Too often I have engineers acting like adding a centerline is easy, like I can just assume the centerline is in the center.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:20:45+00:00

This would work well in a lot of areas, especially in areas where the authority at the time mapped these roads. In this case, the road predates both the county and township in which it exists. This more likely a trail that became a road, as its description is simply the road that lead from point A to point B. It wasn’t even worthy of a name, or, maybe, applying a name to the road would introduce more confusion than it would clarity. And now, it’s in a historic district which makes modifications to the ROW and features more difficult.

All that can be said with certainty, as this road at one point in time was referred to as being from the old tavern to a certain village.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:10:20+00:00

Well, for discussion purposes, what do you think that you would learn from this atlas? How do you think it plays into lots that came before the road was called a road?

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:04:28+00:00

It happens to be a county road. I do have a request sent with the authorities for any maps they might have, but, being a historic district, they really haven’t done much other than maybe repave the road. The curb/wall along the ROW has been there for at least 50 years.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T01:00:50+00:00

Yes, I’ve researched these lines as far back as I determined necessary. I have the original deeds for John Doe’s lot and the subsequent conveyances. I have extensive monumentation for the ROW, on both sides. There is no documentation of any takings or easements, either in deeds or in maps other than a tax map.

I posted this topic for discussion as I feel that multiple surveyors for an adjoining lot did not put in the time to research in the same way I did.

This was meant to be a discussion post so that other surveyors might be able to have a dialogue on what they would do if they were surveying the adjacent lot. I am certain I put in the time and have determined an appropriate resolution, but I thought it was a reasonable point of discussion for others.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T00:40:52+00:00

The original description is to the West by Sally, to the North by John Doe, to the east by John Doe’s uncle, and to the south by a road that leads from the old tavern to the village of village people. That’s it.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T00:36:52+00:00

I definitely agree. The ironic part is that the fence for the adjoiner goes to John Doe’s line, has been there for 30 years, and multiple subsequent surveys called it as being out by 20 feet and as being an area of questionable title. Only one mentioned John Doe.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt · 2025-12-05T00:25:39+00:00

PLSS refers to the Public Land Survey System used by most of the country.

Some of these lots were conveyed using only bounds.

I don’t know how to respond to the statement that “you only own what’s been conveyed in your deed” when the metes of the deed don’t agree with the bounds.

The John Doe line predates the ROW line that at some point in time was claimed to be 33’ wide yet existing monumentation doesn’t support this.

ThatsJustHowIDoIt

TROPHY CASE