5 Things To Look Out For When Buying Land

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Thinking of buying a plot of land? It’s important that whatever land you buy is right for your needs – whether you plan to build a home, start a farm, or plant a forest. Below are just some of the things to look out for when buying land.

Size/shape

Size and shape can be important factors to consider. If a plot of land is too small or is awkwardly shaped, you may find that you cannot use it for your purpose. Look at a map to get a good idea of where the exact borders of your land lie.

Ground conditions

The ground conditions can be very important to consider. If the soil is too boggy or too hard, it may not be possible to build upon or grow produce. You also need to make sure that there’s no risk of flooding or sinkholes. Hiring a land surveyor to inspect the land with you could be the best way of determining whether the soil is suitable.

Some land may still have rubble on or may have overgrown foliage on top of it. In these cases, you may need to also look into land clearing. This is something to factor into your budget when buying land.

Access

You should also consider how accessible your land is. Is there a local road connected to it? If not, developing it in any way could prove difficult. If you’re buying land to build a home on, you may also want to look into the local area to see if it has all the amenities you need. An urban plot of land may suit some people better than a rural plot of land in the middle of nowhere.

Planning permission/public rights

It’s important to look into planning permission to make sure that there are not any development restrictions in place that could affect your goals. Some rural land may be protected due to being a national park or area of outstanding beauty, in which case you may not be able to build upon it at all. In other cases, there may be tight regulations as to what you can build.

You should also consider public rights. In some cases, there could be a public footpath running through a plot of land which you cannot obstruct. There could also be rules when it comes to roads and rivers.

Utilities connectivity

If you’re building a house or any kind of structure on the land, you may want to consider the option of utilities connectivity. Will you be able to connect mains water, mains gas, and main electricity? It’s possible to rely on off-grid power – solar panels are the most common solution. You may even be able to collect rainwater and turn it into drinking water, as well as getting rid of your own waste in a septic tank. However, these are all extra costs that you will need to budget for.