Farm buying checklist

[Bro. Williams]

Things to check on when buying a farm:

Understandably, there would be some specifics to the title. Is it a cattle farm, a hobby farm... etc.

I am just looking for some general basics.

We are looking for land in our area and if I found something I liked, I would like to know some of the basics that I should be looking for.

My interest is at first only a hobby farm in an interest of growing a semi-selfsustaining homestead. We would like to have a few dairy cows, some goats, chickens, grow our own hay and produce, etc. Nothing real fancy.

But, as a true green horn, with only the experience of gardening for one year, owning 2 rabbits and several dogs... I thought it right to ask others about advice as far as what to consider when searching. I will add more specific details if needed and requested. Thanks.

[rambler]

Access. Be on a real road, not shared or land-locked private road.

Water. Can you get good drinking water?

Power. What will it cost to get power to the building site?

A good building site. Not in a flood plane.

Privacy. Will you be able to build the house & buildings a bit away from neighbors and the road? Dust, noise, and security are the point.

Flat or hills, wooded or bare, sandy & dry or low & wet - that's all up to you & what you want to do with it. All that & more are important, but only to you....

--->Paul

[meanwhile]

1. Water - the number one thing would be water. Find out where is it, well or spring? Is it clean or can you clean it? Would your water be in danger from any activity of neighbors (garden run off, animals, gas or oil from shops, etc.)? and so forth - be sure you have your own water.

2. Neighbors: who are they? Friendly? etc.? We all need good neighbors.

3. See if you can find out if any of the neighbors are about to sell out. After we bought our wonderful Homestead, the property just next to us almost sold out to a development. It would have put a subdivision right behind my house since, although I had 25 acres, the property line was in sight behind me. Thank heavens the neighbor offered the land to us first and we were able to buy it but that has now tied up all our money in land we did not need.

Good luck -

[Stephen in SOKY]

I agree on access & water being foremost. For me, a close third would be: Are the mineral rights still attached to the property & is there a gas well present. I'm not going to be able to cut wood forever. A gas well is the gift that keeps on giving! They're not as uncommon as one would think either.