More or Less

A troublesome land deed term that crops up occasionally is the unsettling “more or less.” Old surveys are famous for this, and it means that the amount of land may be over or under the acreage stated.

As surveys were done, some land features were allowed for, resulting in a 100-acre parcel that could really be 110 acres. Sometimes the survey ran out land for a particular area resulting in under the amount stated. This is why a survey nowadays is needed so you accurately know the true amount of property you own. It’s like an old neighbor once told me about those long-ago surveys: “One feller wins, and one feller loses.” Those are some true words!