Five Things You Didn’t Know About Utility Easements in New Braunfels, TX

Many property owners lack a full understanding of their property ownership. Utility easements in New Braunfels, TX can often affect their land and the use of it. Do you know the facts about these easements?

Following are a few tips from your land surveyor in New Braunfels, TX to fill you in on the details:

• You may not own your land: If you own a property with utility easements, you technically own the land, but with qualifications. An easement gives another person the right to use your land for a specific purpose. In the case of a utility easement in New Braunfels, TX, the utility company can use this land as they see fit for utility purposes. They may need to dig up this portion of your yard or install a piece of equipment here. Because the portion of your property is an easement, you cannot refuse.
• Easements can affect property values: A utility easement in New Braunfels, TX often does little to affect the property’s value. However, it is possible that an easement, or multiple easements on one property, can limit building and therefore decrease the value. Unsightly wires or other utility materials may also make the property less desirable. Additionally, if a property is for sale, potential buyers might not be comfortable with having an easement on their property and may therefore choose not to buy that particular lot.
• Utility easements reduce costs: Utility easements in New Braunfels, TX are put in place to keep costs down for utility companies. Without them, the companies would have to install utility lines around parcels of land, which would greatly increase the cost. By reducing the materials and labor with a shortcut through properties, they can keep installation and maintenance costs lower.
• Easements can limit property use: If a utility company has an easement on your property, you cannot do anything with that parcel of land that would interfere with their use of it. For example, planting tall trees that would interfere with power lines could be prohibited. Additionally, digging up an area that contains (or could later contain) utility lines in order to put in an inground pool may not be feasible.
• They’re not trespassing: Since the utility company has a right to use this land, they technically do not have to ask permission or inform you if they plan to visit the location or do any work on it. Some companies or municipalities may have other policies in place, but this would be a courtesy, not a requirement.

Do you have additional questions about utility easements in New Braunfels, TX? Would you like to find out if you have any on your property that could affect future projects or land use? Contact your expert land surveyor in New Braunfels, TX at Bettersworth & Associates, Inc. Our knowledgeable staff can answer any questions and address any concerns. We offer industry-leading tools and skills to complete your land survey and keep you completely informed about utility easements.

Categorised in: Land Surveyor, Utility Easements