Property misuse does not always start with something dramatic. Sometimes it starts with a small pile of manure.

Then another.

And eventually, a very large one.

During routine field patrols of client owned properties, our agents identified multiple instances where adjacent landowners were openly dumping large quantities of horse manure into company-owned rights-of-way. The dumping was visible, ongoing, and well established.

While manure may seem relatively harmless, open and continuous use of property without permission can create serious risk to company operations. Activities that go unchallenged over time can weaken a company’s ownership position and, in some cases, support adverse possession claims.

Manure also represents the low end of the risk spectrum. If property is left unmonitored, there is little to stop a bad actor from dumping hazardous or toxic materials. Environmental contamination can trigger regulatory involvement and obligate the property owner to costly cleanup efforts, even when they were not responsible for the dumping.

Because our agents were actively patrolling the property, the issues were identified early. Responsible parties were documented and contacted, the unauthorized activity was stopped, and the material was removed. In most cases, resolution was achieved through cooperative discussions rather than legal escalation. In one instance, the parties worked together to coordinate a low-cost removal solution that addressed the problem without creating additional hardship.

The lesson is straightforward. Small problems become big ones when no one is watching.

NSI Consulting & Development provides trained field agents equipped with GIS-enabled applications to inspect property, log encroachments, capture photos and notes in the field, and help companies proactively manage their real estate assets before minor issues turn into expensive liabilities.