Selling real estate in a semi-rural area with acreage is great because you get to show & sell rural ranch properties out in the country. You get to do exciting things you can't do with "normal" tract houses in suburban subdivisions.
For instance, you discover interesting things like:
- Viewing a couple of rural properties can take up your ENTIRE day. After the 1-2 hour drive there, viewing them can be very extensive. And exhausting.
- Contrary to the Verizon commercial, there are many remote places that your cell phone just won't work. Although amazingly enough, once you climb to the peak of the mountain, you'll get the clearest reception ever!
- You get to learn about septic tanks (hold your nose while it's being pumped out), propane tanks (the on/off switch), water wells (which need electricity to run), leach fields, and wind & solar power.
- You'll have to learn to read topo (topographical) maps (with hills marked), plat maps from the county, creative property descriptions, and aerial photos.
- You meet lots of little critters who share this land with people. So don't be afraid of them, and don't try to exterminate them -- they were there before you and they way outnumber you!
- Out in the country, roads are not named and properties not marked. It's easy to get lost (very embarrassing with your client in tow).
- It's possible to live self-sufficiently -- in fact, that's how everyone did it a few generations ago (see the end of this post).
- You never knew how adventurous you were until now! Maybe you really ARE a country girl at heart.
- God's green earth is stunningly breath-taking. Especially if you have an ocean view at sunset.
You also get to learn about cool stuff like:
- An electrical meter that runs BACKWARDS! That's right, they are generating power and selling it to the power company, instead of buying it from them.
- Underground creeks on the property - ever heard of that?
- How much acreage is required to stable a horse (surprisingly, only a couple)
- The boys can ride their quads or dirt bikes on the property, as long as they don't pave a "track" for it (or mad neighbors may call about the noise)
- How shockingly quiet and dark and peaceful it can be -- way out in the country
You get to meet vendors you never heard of, and visit offices you've only read about:
- Geological / soils engineer - to test soil for minerals and agricultural planting.
- County building & planning dept. (to find out how many/how large residences you can have on your land).
- Well drilling company - get an estimate of how much to drill a new well, how far down water is
- State water commission - to find out where the creek beds are, and if there are any protected animal species in the creek.
- County zoning dept. - to find out if zoning RR (rural residence) means 2 houses or 3; and what are future plans for the area?
- California Coastal commission - to find out about building height of properties facing the ocean, or viewable from the ocean - or if you can even build at all!
- Orchard guy - to let you know if avocados will really grow on that northeast patch of land - and what type of irrigation you'll need.
- Land surveyor to mark the property lot lines (for your client's peace of mind) - there may NOT be any fences around the property boundaries -- and the fences are often wrong anyway.
Be sure to wear your jeans and boots and hat. You'll need it because you don't know if you'll be:
- Climbing over fences (if you can't get the gate unlocked)
- Hiking up hills as you duck that bright sunshine in your eyes
- Stepping over cow "patties" - and frogs and snakes
- Getting covered with poison oak - long sleeves and long pants required
- Ending up with weeds and burrs in your socks (oh, so this is why cowboys wear tall boots!)
And be sure to take your 4-wheel drive truck (or let your client drive his). It'll come in handy when you're:
- Rappelling up the side of a steep mountain (don't look down!!!)
- Sloshing through a muddy creek (pray that you don't get stuck, there's no cell phone reception so you can't call a tow truck)
- Swerving to avoid cows standing in the road at every curve
- Driving up a steep, curvy 1-lane dirt road while watching for oncoming traffic (and make sure you have good brakes for the steep drive back down)
- Oh yeah, and take your GPS navigation system, but you can't rely on it 100% because many of the private dirt roads just won't be listed
Bring your digital camera! You'll want to take photos of:
- Junk your buyer wants removed before COE (see photo below)
- Utilities (as part of your due diligence)
- Borderline permissable activities, like storage of birds for cock fighting? (see 2nd photo below)
- Questionable buildings on the property -- most likely, no permits
- Stuff that is just plain weird, you can't even figure out what it is, and you'll have to ask the seller
Now you'll have to ask your regular vendors if they serve "rural acreage" properties (appraiser, home inspector, pest control, home warranty, building contractor). And the title report may take longer if there's an unusual metes & bounds description (such as: "the second rock from the big oak tree by the creek"); or if the property was sub-divided unusually (as is often the case with acreage).
Why do clients buy rural property? Folks have many reasons, including:
- As equestrian properties, they maintain horses
- They like the idea of being isolated from neighbors, and the peace and quiet
- They are country people who feel comfortable in rural areas living on a ranch
- Agricultural farming, either for profit or as a hobby
- Create their own family compound for several generations
- The prestige of inviting guests to their "gentleman's estate"
- They have money to spend, so they may as well invest in the best wealth in the world - California coast & country property
Okay, now the biggest question of all, if you're not familiar with rural properties:
What is living OFF THE GRID?
It means being completely self-sufficient and NOT receiving any municipal utilities. Is that possible???, you ask in disbelief. Heck yeah! Most of our grandparents and great-grandparents were raised on farms BEFORE electricity was invented -- what do you think they did?
- Wells for water, or a nearby creek
- Propane tanks instead of gas for heating
- Generator, wind, or solar for power (or a combination)
- Septic tank instead of sewer system
- Trash is burned, recycled, or hauled out (no weekly trash pickup)
- Grow their own veggies/fruits, raise chickens (eggs), and trade with neighbors for food
- Neighbors help each other when needed
I am meeting more and more families who opt to return to this simple lifestyle. In fact, they are stocking up for their families, just in case of a widespread depression. They want to be self-sufficient.
QUESTION: Would you ever be able to live OFF THE GRID and give up some of today's modern conveniences?
Join my new AR group and post your blog at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice
Regina P. Brown
Broker, Realtor®, e-Pro
Author of eBook "Stop Foreclosure Fast: Solutions to Save your House"
Text copyright © 2009 R.P. Brown, All Rights Reserved
Comments(28)