It’s October, and Norton Geddie is back with another real estate horror story — this time involving a beautiful home, a luxury garage, and one major oversight: the garage wasn’t even built on the buyer’s property.
A Beautiful Neighborhood, a Beautiful Home… and a Surprise
A close friend of ours bought a home in a well-established, highly desirable neighborhood. It was the kind of area where you assume everything is in order — homes have been there for decades, and nothing should surprise you.
The property featured a stunning detached garage. Not just any garage — it was a showpiece, the kind of space that adds real value. The previous owner had clearly invested serious money into it. But when it came time to close on the property, a closer look revealed a shocking twist.
The Garage Wasn’t on Their Property
During the title research and plat review, something didn’t add up. The garage sat in the back left corner of the lot — but based on the official plats, it wasn’t entirely within the property lines. It extended onto the neighbor’s land.
At some point, someone had recorded a plat that extended the left rear property line into a pie-shaped triangle. This change was likely done to make space for the garage. However, while the plat was recorded, the legal deed transferring the land was never created.
So, while the garage appeared to be part of the property, it legally sat — at least in part — on land that was never owned by the seller.
An Honest Neighbor Saved the Day
Fortunately, the seller’s attorney understood the problem immediately and helped bring all parties to the table. Even more fortunate — the neighbor was cooperative, honest, and unaware he technically owned part of the garage’s land.
He agreed to sign a quit claim deed, legally transferring the triangle of land to the buyer. But this story could have gone very differently if the neighbor had refused. A valuable part of the property could have been in limbo, or worse, required a lawsuit to resolve.
The Lesson: Always Get a Survey — Even on “Safe” Properties
This horror story highlights why you should always get a survey when purchasing property, no matter how established the neighborhood is. Recorded plats and assumptions are not enough. You need legal deeds to back them up.
Surveys confirm what’s really yours — and help you avoid building or buying on someone else’s land.
Buying Property? Don’t Assume — Confirm.
Whether you’re buying a home or land in Myrtle Beach or elsewhere in South Carolina, our real estate attorneys can help ensure your deed, plat, and survey all match up — and prevent you from inheriting someone else’s mistake.