5 Things To Consider When Buying Rural Property
Who wouldn’t want a wide stretch of land, with trees, fresh air and crime and traffic. It is a dream come true to live in such peace, quiet and beauty. Most people buy rural properties due to the desire to leave the city permanently, weekend vacation home or planning for your retirement years by securing an investment.
However, in spite of its appealing nature, there are factors you should consider before buying a property far removed from any urban or suburban life, factors that can potentially throw off even the most experienced real estate hound. Read on to know what these factors are and how to avoid unpleasant surprises in your new home or property.
#1.Water and Power
There is a high chance that you would be relying on wells for water. Well water needs to be treated and soften before it can be fit for consumption, this can be very expensive. A safe thing to you is test the water before you buy the property, make sure contaminants, sediments and other dangerous chemicals are not present.
Also be sure to have a power backup system like an inverter or a generator. When there is power blackout due to a harsh storm, rural areas get their power restored last.
#2. Getting There
Usually there would not be any municipal professionals to keep up with the storm, therefore you take care of the potholes and the snow plowing yourself, which are always an issue with country roads. Therefore, you may need to lay some cash aside for the snow tires, plowing equipment, or four-wheel drive vehicles. You may also share the cost of fixing the roads with adjacent neighbors, if there are any.
#3.Trash Removal
Be prepared to get your hands dirty. There are no trash removal services in the rural areas, usually. You may find yourself taking your trash to a dump site, or burning them yourself.
#4.Neighbor’s Behavior
Country living may not always be as quiet and peaceful as it is presumed to be. Your neighbor could be a farmer, that means you’ve got to watch out for the sound of heavy harvesting machinery, loose livestock invading your home, and the smell of a freshly fertilized land. Also if your neighbor is a hunter, rifle shots may prevent you from having a peaceful early morning sleep.
#5. Ask Around
Do not be discouraged from buying a rural property due to the aforementioned issues. They are just things you ought to look out for. You can always discuss the conditions of the utilities with a real estate agent or a home inspector. Also ask the current owners of the home about how they get around during a harsh season, and find out about the trash requirements and the land-use rights of the area from local officials.
