Sell Land With a Boundary or Survey Dispute
Old Tennessee deeds describe corners by trees that fell fifty years ago and stones nobody can find. When two modern surveys disagree, or a neighbor's barn, fence, or driveway crosses a line, the parcel becomes very hard to sell to anyone who needs a lender and a clean title policy.
What you are dealing with
Sound familiar?
- Two surveys that do not agree on where the line is
- A neighbor's fence, shed, or driveway across your boundary
- An overlap or gap between adjoining descriptions
- A survey bill nobody wants to pay to settle it
Questions owners ask us first
- “Do I have to survey before I sell?”
- “What if the neighbor claims part of it?”
- “Can adverse possession really take my land?”
What you will need
- • Every survey and plat you have
- • Your deed and the adjoining deeds if you have them
- • Any correspondence with the neighbor
How it works in Tennessee
The timeline, the law, and your options
- Step 1
Records and surveys
Deeds, plats, and prior surveys are compared. Recorded plats generally carry more weight than a memory of where the fence used to run.
- Step 2
Occupation on the ground
Long-standing fences and use can matter. Tennessee recognizes adverse possession and boundary by acquiescence in defined circumstances.
- Step 3
Agreement or suit
Neighbors can sign and record a boundary line agreement, or a court can establish the line in a boundary dispute action.
Legal notes
- • Tennessee adverse possession periods vary depending on whether the possessor holds under color of title and whether taxes were paid.
- • A recorded boundary line agreement is usually far cheaper than litigation.
- • Surveyors are not lawyers -- a survey shows a line, it does not adjudicate ownership.
- • This is general information, not legal advice.
Your options
- • Order a new survey and negotiate directly with the neighbor
- • Sign and record a boundary line agreement
- • File a boundary dispute action
- • Sell for cash and let us take on the line and the neighbor
How we handle it
What selling this parcel to us looks like
We buy parcels with unresolved lines. We order and pay for the survey when we need it, and we deal with the adjoining owner directly rather than putting you in the middle of a dispute you did not start. You are not required to resolve anything before selling to us.
Our process
Three steps, no surprises
- 1
Tell us about the house
Call or send the address. We ask about condition, timing, and what is going on -- not for photographs or a clean house.
- 2
We walk the property
We look at it ourselves as a licensed contractor and price the repairs from real numbers instead of a padded guess.
- 3
Written offer, your date
You get a written, no-obligation offer, usually within 24 hours. You pick the closing date; we can close in as little as seven days.
Cash offer vs. listing
Compare the net, not the headline price
| Selling to Unique Construct | Traditional listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None — we buy as-is | Seller pays before listing |
| Commissions | None | Typically 5–6% |
| Closing costs | We cover the standard costs | Often seller-paid |
| Showings | One visit from us | Open houses and lockbox |
| Contingencies | No financing, appraisal, or inspection outs | All three |
| Timeline | As little as 7 days | 45–60 days after a contract |
FAQ
Questions sellers ask
- The neighbor has mowed part of it for twenty years. Does he own it?
- Maybe, maybe not. Length of use, taxes, and whether it was permissive all matter. We price the risk and take it off your plate.
- Will you pay for the survey?
- Yes, when one is needed for our purchase.
- Can I sell only the undisputed portion?
- Sometimes, with a survey and a new legal description. We will tell you if that is the cleaner route.
No obligation
Get a written offer on your parcel
No survey, no soil test, and no cleanup at your expense. Send the parcel number and we will do the digging.
Boundary Dispute
No obligation, no fees, no repairs. Tell us about the property and you get a written cash offer within 24 hours of the walkthrough.
This situation by city
Boundary or survey disputes in your area
Not sure what your parcel is worth? Call (865) 277-6808.
Call (865) 277-6808