Let’s be honest, parking can be tight in certain neighborhoods in Alexandria. Finding a house with off street parking can feel like winning lottery at times. However, sometimes things aren’t as they appear, especially in Old Town with its numerous public and private alleys, oddly shaped lots and historic encroachments that neighbors have lived with for decades. A parking spot that looks like it conveys with a property may actually be outside of the property lines. If you are shopping for a house and off street parking is important to you (or, if the sellers of a house have represented off street parking is a feature of their home and are asking a commensurate price for that amenity), it’s advisable to have a professional house location survey done. A survey will definitively show the property lines, including any easements or other encroachments that may affect the property value or improvements that can be done to the property (click here to read a Washington Post article describing one buyers’ experience). Getting this information early in the process will help prevent potential issues from becoming big problems and ensure you are purchasing exactly what you are expecting.