**Published August 31, 2026**
A leaning tree, disputed fence, root damage claim, or uncertain property line can appear in inspection notes, neighbor messages, surveys, insurance files, and disclosure forms. The contract reviewer should connect those records without deciding ownership, negligence, or liability.
Create a neutral issue inventory
Collect surveys, plats, deeds, photographs, arborist reports, municipal notices, insurance correspondence, estimates, neighbor communications, disclosures, and amendments. Label each artifact by date, author, location described, and source. Preserve original wording such as “near the line” rather than converting it to “on the neighbor’s land.”
Reconcile location evidence
Compare the legal description, survey markers, fence lines, easements, and areas marked in reports or photographs. Record whether an image has a date and identifiable viewpoint. Aerial imagery and parcel maps can help frame a question but should not be presented as a boundary survey.
Build the communication timeline
List observations, complaints, requests, inspections, estimates, notices, work, and responses. Identify sender, recipient, delivery method, attachment, and stated deadline. Separate a demand from an agreement and a proposal from completed work.
Connect the purchase agreement
Search disclosure, inspection, property condition, encroachment, casualty, repair, access, title, and dispute provisions. Record any negotiated credit, escrow, removal obligation, or document-delivery condition. Compare the signed resolution with settlement figures and the closing checklist.
Identify unresolved questions
Examples include missing survey pages, conflicting locations, unclear ownership, open municipal notice, unaccepted estimate, missing insurance disposition, or repair promised without completion evidence. Assign questions to counsel, a surveyor, arborist, insurer, municipality, or other responsible professional.
The result should be a fact-indexed file, not an opinion about the boundary or fault. Property and tort rules vary, and technical condition should be evaluated by qualified specialists.