Unpopular opinion: My DIY property purchase turned into a nightmare due to an overlooked easement.

I was convinced that hiring a real estate agent was unnecessary for purchasing my first property. I relied on online listings and handled all negotiations myself to save on commission. However, I completely missed a crucial easement on the land that prohibited any structural additions. After closing, I discovered I couldn't build the detached garage I had planned, which slashed the property's resale value. This costly mistake made me realize that professional agents offer essential insights into local regulations and title issues. Now, I always recommend that buyers invest in expert guidance to avoid similar pitfalls.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jade9h ago

Read about a case where an easement for utility access totally blocked a pool installation. Those title searches are no joke.

lisa7499h ago

Yeah, that's the nightmare scenario right there. I've seen it where a buried electrical conduit ran right through the only flat part of a backyard. The title report showed the easement, but the buyers didn't visualize what it actually meant on the ground until they had the pool plans drawn. Total deal-breaker.

matthews216h ago

That buried electrical conduit story is chilling... I read a detailed account in a county zoning report where a scenic easement for a historic trail meant no fences or sheds could be built on the entire rear boundary. It echoes what @the_jade said about utility access blocking projects, but this was about preserving a view nobody even used. The family couldn't add privacy screening from their noisy neighbors... all because of a clause buried in the covenants. A good agent would have pointed that out during the initial showing, saving everyone the headache. It's those invisible restrictions that really gut your plans after the fact.