Plus or minus 2 acres

[CalMeacham]

That’s what it said on a sign I saw this morning on my drive in to work.
“± 2 Acres”
It didn’t say something like “20 ± 2 Acres”, which is an indication that you should fire your surveyor. Just the Plus or Minus 2 acres.

I’m tempted to call them up. This sounds like an opportunity to buy what is potentially negative land.

But I don’t think I can afford that. It’s OK if I pay the money and luck out and get the “+ 2 acres”. Then I’ve got more land that I can do something with. But what if I’m wrong, and it turns out to be the “- 2 acres”? They could end up taking the land my house sits on!
Can anyone tell me what this sign means? Is “± 2 acres” realtor’s shorthand for something else, like, “about 2 acres (but we couldn’t be bothered to actually measure it)” or something?

[DesertDog]

@CalMeacham

Can anyone tell me what this sign means? Is “± 2 acres” realtor’s shorthand for something else, like, “about 2 acres (but we couldn’t be bothered to actually measure it)” or something?

That would be my take. They are probably figuring ≈2 acres would be interpreted as two acres under water.

[beowulff]

What’s funny is, just reversing the order makes it reasonably correct.

“2 acres ±” is a pretty standard way of saying 2 acres more-or-less.

[ElvisL1ves]

The land parcel is legally described by a plot number in the county records, or by metes and bounds (Start at this rock, then go north 16.5 rods etc.). The actual area is approximate and given only for reference, so no lawsuits if there’s half a square millimeter less than 2 acres upon closer examination.

[WildBlueYonder]

@ElvisL1ves

The land parcel is legally described by a plot number in the county records, or by metes and bounds (Start at this rock, then go north 16.5 rods etc.). The actual area is approximate and given only for reference, so no lawsuits if there’s half a square millimeter less than 2 acres upon closer examination.

This

[RetroVertigo]

@ElvisL1ves

The land parcel is legally described by a plot number in the county records, or by metes and bounds (Start at this rock, then go north 16.5 rods etc.). The actual area is approximate and given only for reference, so no lawsuits if there’s half a square millimeter less than 2 acres upon closer examination.

Basically this. My family owns some forested property that we have used for camping (and what not) for a few generations. The property has a couple flowing streams, and is bordered on a larger creek. The way the original title was drawn up was that we owned to the middle of the creek bed (which is a gray-area with state law). However this is always in flux as the creek shifts over time in either direction.

When we went to sell a sliver of property to a neighbor for them to build a better access road we had to spell out the approximation since it could shift over time.

[Nava]

@ElvisL1ves

The land parcel is legally described by a plot number in the county records, or by metes and bounds (Start at this rock, then go north 16.5 rods etc.). The actual area is approximate and given only for reference, so no lawsuits if there’s half a square millimeter less than 2 acres upon closer examination.

The concept is correct, the way they notate it is wrong.

[Chimera]

Here you go.

http://massgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/basicviewer/index.html?appid=47689963e7bb4007961676ad9fc56ae9

You can drill down to and click on any piece of property in the state.

Like this random commercial property I clicked on;

4 BURLINGTON MALL, BURLINGTON 01803
Owner: FEDERATED RETAIL HOLDINGS INC
Owner Address:
7 WEST SEVENTH ST
CINCINNATI, OH 45202

Building Value: $9,291,600
Land Value: $9,910,000
Other Value: $339,400
Total Value: $19,541,000

Assessment data from FY 2013

Lot Size: 17.40 A
Last Sale Price: $100
Last Sale Date: 20061109
Use Code: 322
Year Built: 1968
Residential Area: 247,212 sq ft
Building Style: Dept. Store
Number of Units: 1
Number of Rooms:

Book, Page: 1329, 44
Property ID: 52-3-0
Location ID: M_223635_914457