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Dawn's a good time to scope out property, especially a land sale a short drive from Asheville, N.C, - one of interesting proportions - 27+ irregular acres. So today , as I rolled down a highway where pale-blue mountains fringed the still-pink skies, I considered the anatomy of this particular land sale, and how it could play out for sellers and buyers.
•1) It might be an investment, a 1031 Exchange.
•2) It could be someone's prized find for a second home.
•3) It could be the perfect mountain retreat with sheltered cove, distant mountain views, two homes, two guest cottages.
•4) A cascade is at the edge of the property, the well is already in place. . .water sources. Good-good!
Reveries and Realities
I have to tell you, by the time I arrived at the land, I was imagining a sunny acre, in the midst of the other twenty-or-so, fed by a cool mountain stream, and embraced by big old shade trees who stood majestically around protecting an organic herb garden. I could almost smell the sage and lavender. The neighbors in this eco-friendly development would come singing down the road to visit and share stories there in the garden.
Isn't imagination is a wonderful thing? 
What I really saw before me
pushed the envelope.
•1) The gravel driveway into the property had disappeared under an intense bramble of grass and wild carrot.
•2) Almost all 27+ acres were overgrown.. .hard to see the amazing view.
•3)It's summer. Ticks, gnats, bees, and snakes could alarm my clients. (Now you know why land specialists do lots of business in the winter.)
While it might not be what I had imagined (YET), "magic" was here . I'm going to take this listing as soon as I get the go-ahead on this checklist:
CHECKLIST : Site Prep for 27+ Land Listing, Mountain Retreat
1. Bush-hog. Call and schedule Handsome Masters. (This is our land "curb appeal" crew. They will do basic bush hogging and cleanup. Free the stream and cascade. Unearth the incredible huge rock outcroppings. Make paths to the 300 degree overlook and deep, cool woods. And show the potential of that sunny acre.
2. Professional Photo Shoot . This will be refined when we get good weather for photos
3. Pests. Call and schedule the non-toxic pest control folks. (They can discourage pests from crawling on trousers and bare legs on the newly formed paths.)
4. ECO-site evaluation. Marcus Renner, professor and past President of the Green Building Council (see the GREEN RESOURCES Directory) here in the mountains, will review the property for appropriate building sites and development, solar, wind and other eco-friendly assets. His analysis, a wonderful marketing plusfor our eco-friendly audience and for green builders, will be the centerpiece in the marketing strategy.
What's Next? Stay tuned for Part II. and in the meantime, please do let me know what you think.
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33 Comments on Anatomy of a Land Sale ~ 27+ AC Mountain Retreat (Part I) The CHECKLIST
Michele~
I am waiting to get my Eco-site evaluation back from Green Consultant, Marcus to make sure I am correct on the orientation...to me it seems as if it faces west/southwest...in addition, I want to know what the best place for siting a home(s) would be...
for photos...totally!...you are so right on! our photographer hopes to get there soon at dawn/dusk to get some incredible shots.
Glad you like the idea of pest control (all natural),,,
Stephanie~
Nice to talk with you the other day! You and me both about the Snake situation. The folks around-here say the best advice is to carry a chain saw...NO..NOT to cut the poor critter up!..They say if you start it up and lay it on a rock, the VIBRATION alerts the snakes and they slither off for safe hiding... ~<<<<----
Teresa~
Thanks for the comment...I really enjoy land sales. It is a "different" kind of real estate adventure...I have to say, I carry some"different" tools with me...a clipper, a shovel, one of those old-timey grass swinger-mow-things...and wear some pretty weird outfits...like white jeans and socks inside and OUTSIDE rolled up (for the pests)...maybe I'll put a photo of us out in the fields in my follow-up on this post
Jennifer~
Yes...this was a 'small" parcel for us...we generally do alrger acreages...and work to connect conservation trust investors with sellers. I love working with a team of hydrologists, ecologists, botanists, and bush-hoggers...well-drillers, environmental scientists for the health department (they do the perc tests) and other land brokers.
Bill~
You will NOT believe what happened with the waterfall property! You could guess, but I bet you never would hit what went on. I will go over an update that post later on tonight.
Glad I could be of service with the idea of "curb appeal" for land. This particular parcel may have great appeal to a family...so I wanted to be sure that it would be easier for them to envision where their home would "fit" on the acreage... how to orient it to gain passive solar advantages, , where the gardens could be, and how the cascades that create a refreshing pool beneath the shade of the old trees. . . .
The only problem with LAND...is that I fall in love with these acreages. . .=)
Carole~
One of the things I like best about the practice of real estate is that it calls on our ability to "see potential"...One of the things I like best about being a land specialist is that each parcel has a personality...and after some time of "getting to know" various tracts around the Greater Asheville area, you can "recognize" the individual "personalities". . . It's hard to explain, but I bet you get it. . .
Jeff~
Yes...sorry to hear about your Lyme Disease!!! This is one reason why I advise my sellers to call in a pest control expert.
There are all different kinds of ticks .... I am putting a LINK here for anyone who would like information. A black-legged (deer) tick is notorious. Here's a picture gallery ...If I were going to look for a way around ticks in my pasture, I'd probably enlist the aid of guinea fowl. THEY actually love to feast on the ticks.
Mary~
I can hardly wait to read what Marcus has to say in his site evaluation, either. I don't have it back yet, but will let ya'll know...possibly in the next post in this series.
Lexa~
It makes me smile to read a bout your response to LAND! I feel the same way. There is just 'something" about it that makes me merry.
OK janeAnne, no more complaints about "continuing sagas," I'll wait patiently for the conclusion to the tale of the waterfall.
BTW, what is the asking price of the 27 acres? I haven't even seen it and I'm in love with it also.
Bill Roberts
Bill~
It is a HUGELY REASONABLE $270K. This is an amazing price for this land. It has the well already in place. it has the septic permits for a 4 BR home...and it is just 20 minutes from Asheville, but it feels as if it is a vacation-time away. I love the sounds of the stream, cascades and chirping birds. ALSO very little light pollution, so the stars at night are big and bright...
Stephanie~
Mentioned your-moth ball remedy to Ann Cummings when she was here visiting. I am wondering how that would work on 27+ aces...I am actually laughing at the thought of neighbors on adjoining acreage waking in the middle of the night ...suspecting a strange visitor to the Woods...and wondering what IT could be...hoho
Lexa~
I just subscribed to your BLOG. I see that you cover rural Arizona. Hope that we can stay in touch, and thanks for the land analogy and wise words from your Dad.
I think that's a great idea, and the term "curb appeal" in regards to land brings a giant smile to my face.
It seems that so many amazing properties (that could be future organic farms, homesteads, ecovillages, etc.) get overlooked because nobody thought to create a checklist and give that property any "curb appeal".
Thank you for all the wonderful work that you do!
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