Deed Plotter for Windows, Review

Helps you Analyze Deeds

Greenbrier Graphic's Deed Plotter(TM) for Windows is a deed description analyzer. What's that? It's a software program that allows you to enter the legal description of a piece of property. The software analyzes the information, and draws the tract.

We often list property that has passed through several owners without a new boundary survey, and no one can locate a copy of the old documents. When that happens, we depend on the sellers to show us boundary lines, but with larger tracts of land, or land they never lived on, even sellers might be uncertain where their property ends. If they are not prepared to pay for a new survey up-front, an agent cannot provide accurate information to buyers and other agents.

Plotting doesn't take the place of a new survey, since the tract the program draws is only as accurate as the information on the deed, but it can help in many ways.

• It lets you visualize the tract more clearly, including the length of individual lot lines. In our area, tax mapping information doesn't always match deed descriptions, so the stated length of property lines is often inaccurate.

• When you can see the tract, it's easier to search for and find existing iron pins and other markers and monuments along the boundaries.

• If coordinates do not close (come together at the point of origin) the acreage count is usually inaccurate. Deed plotting software can alert you to possible problems with the acreage.

• If a new survey comes in with a different acreage than you expected, plotting the old deed description may help you understand why.

Using Deed Plotter for Windows
When you work with Deed Plotter you'll flip back and forth between two modes. In 'Editor' mode you'll input the coordinates from the deed description. A click of the mouse takes you to 'Tract' mode, where you'll view and add options to the drawing.

Deed descriptions are readily available at most county courthouses, so head there to get a few sample deeds.

Editor Mode - Inputting Data
Editor mode is where you'll input the 'calls' (coordinates) from the deed description. The program accepts bearings, azimuths, deflections, interior angles, feet, meters, varas, chains, rods, poles, perches and links.

Any category can be converted to another category, and the editor alerts you if you attempt to enter improperly formatted data.

A few things you can do in Editor Mode

• Add a description for a marker that might be present at a call.
  
• Add information for curves.
  
• Use a simple 'merge' command to bring together adjacent properties. (This can also be accomplished with the mouse in tract mode.)
  
• See a print preview and set up your printer.
  
• Include information for easements and right-of-ways.
  
• Save maps as 'wmf' and 'dxf' files.
  
• Enter a rectangular survey into the editor.

Deed Conversion Option
Deed Plotter offers a unique deed conversion option. To use it, type a complete deed description into a word processor and import the file into Deed Plotter to analyze the description and draw the tract.

Working in Tract Mode
Moving from editor to tract mode is easy, you simply hit a function key or click the mouse within the map area. The tract is drawn immediately, using the calls you've typed in. The list needn't be complete, you can flip back and forth to watch the tract progress from beginning to end.

A few things you can do in Tract Mode

• Add text to your document.
  
• Choose labels for the tract (deed calls, title and date, show corner labels, etc.).
  
• Change line widths and colors and add fills.
  
• Analyze the tract. Deed Plotter can help locate faulty deed calls. It looks for boundary lines that may be too short or long, transposed degrees in a bearing, and other problems, then makes suggestions for corrections.
  
• Balance the tract. This step is a last-ditch effort to close a faulty tract, and although it shouldn't be represented as an accurate drawing, it may be useful.
  
• Zoom in and out for a better view.
  
• Use the mouse to draw lines.
  
• Put topo data into the maps.

This review covers only the basics about Greenbrier's Deed Plotter. There are many powerful commands that might not be used often, but are there when and if you ever need them.

I suggest you visit the Deed Plotter Web site for system requirements, and to order a copy for yourself. When it arrives, be sure to work through the tutorials. They'll get you up-to-speed in a very short time.

A Note for Mac Users
Although it's not mentioned in the system requirements, I used this program with ease on a Mac running SoftWindows '98. The only changes that were necessary were to ignore the 'right click' and 'left click' comments and just 'click,' and to use the 'control' key instead of the 'insert' key for a few commands.