What to Ask When Buying a Farm or Rural Property
Farms and rural properties can include houses, barns, outbuildings, acreage, pasture, gardens, woodlots, ponds and other features. All of these things need to be taken into account when looking for a property that will suit your personal needs. Knowing what to ask beforehand can make your visit to a property with a real estate agent much more productive.
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Water
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Water is a primary concern on a rural property, particularly in arid locations like the western United States. You should find out whether the property has a dug or drilled well, how old the well is and how many gallons per minute it provides. You should also get some water from the well and have it tested. If you are planning to grow crops and irrigate, this is far more complicated than just seeking water for household use. Talk to the nearest neighbors and ask them about their experiences with water; you can learn a lot by doing this and potentially be warned away from a major problem.
Septic
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An aspect of rural property that most urban dwellers are unfamiliar with is the septic system. Most septic systems consist of an underground concrete tank that the graywater--dirty water from bathing, laundry and sinks--and sewage pipes from the house go into, and a leach field into which the liquid from the septic tank seeps. Find out how old the septic system is and when the tank was last cleaned out. If the septic system has not been properly maintained or is extremely old, it may require replacing, and this can cost upwards of $10,000.
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Soil
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If you are buying a rural property strictly as a recreational property, the nature and quality of the soil may not be of great concern to you. If you plan to farm it, though, the soil should be the first thing you look at. You can tell something about the soil simply by examining what's growing in it, but to really know what the soil quality is you will need to dig into it. Some soils are filled with clay while others are sandy. If you're lucky, you will find rich, black loamy soil with a good mixture of soil and clay. Which soil is ideal for you depends on what your plans are; for example, vineyards do better in sandier soil.
Roads
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When you visit the neighbors to chat about water, ask them about the roads too. Find out how frequently they are plowed in the winter, if that is an issue, and whether they are ever washed out or impassable with mud in the springtime. Ask about school buses if you have children. Take a good look at the property's driveway and picture it in all four seasons. Access can become a major problem on properties with troublesome driveways.
Buildings
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Older farmhouses have lots of character and can also have lots of problems. If you're serious about buying, have the house and barns inspected by a qualified building inspector. Look for cracks or signs of flooding in the foundation, animal damage, leaks in the attic and poorly fitted windows that may need replacing. Some structural problems will make you reconsider the price you are willing to pay, while others may be serious enough to kill the deal altogether.
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References
- Photo Credit farm image by Richard McGuirk from Fotolia.com
