UNDERSTANDING THE STAKES

One of the first rules in buying property is never underestimate the importance of details! Access, right-of-ways, setbacks, restrictions, lot lines, and easements are just a few terms that are often overlooked and can come back to create huge problems after the land has been purchased.

Your Real Estate agent and a good closing attorney will help you with the details and explain your rights and limitations of being a land owner.

Is the land able to accommodate the size home you want? Is the home site already cleared and excavated? Can more of the land be cleared, excavated or increased if needed? If the house pad has not already been dug out prior to purchasing, is the soil hard dirt or is it rock? More often than not, the best mountain views are from the ridges, but keep in mind that most ridges are rock. Moving rock is a lot more costly than moving dirt….good to know before you begin digging! Ridges can also be costly in terms of well drilling. Rocky soil and steep slopes may also provide a challenge when septic systems have to be installed. Keep in mind that the septic and well drilling challenges may not pose an issue if your land is in town or close to the main corridors and have access to city water and sewer systems.

The things that create great views often prove to be problems in other areas of developing; however when you consider the trade off these setbacks are often minimal.

It is important that you know your property lines, right-of-ways, setbacks and easements. Over time memories of property lines can often become blurred. A licensed surveyor will re-establish corners and flag the property lines so that you will know exactly what your rights are and exactly what is your land. This is literally a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with ordering a current survey.

Here at Smoky Falls Real Estate, we continue to go the extra mile in helping you understand your land and its value.