Before you head out to preview a piece of rural property, here are a few key tips that will make your next outing more enjoyable, safer, and your time more beneficial.
1. Arrange to visit the land with your land agent
Touch base with the agent before heading out to preview the rural property. Arrange for the agent to meet you and show the proper access, boundary markers and key features of the land. That way, you'll get a clearer picture of the property being offered, and you'll head off any potential confrontations by someone who thinks you are trespassing. The company I work for requires that all of our properties are shown by appointment only, to ensure everyone's safety.
2. Before you visit the property, print and review maps
Printing aerial and topographical maps from the agent’s website will be helpful as you walk the property. You can find streams, boundary lines, homes and other key features if you have your map handy.
3. Dress the part for a walk on rural land
I am always amazed when a potential buyer shows up to preview rural land in shorts and flip-flops. It is hard to walk in the woods in the South if you're not dressed appropriately. I suggest wearing long pants and boots or closed-toe shoes if you are walking trails or walking through the woods. The South has all sorts of creatures and plants that like to leave their mark on bare legs, so come prepared.
4. Bring bugspray
Enough said.
5. Consider whether it's hunting season -- and plan accordingly
Fall and winter are great times to visit a property to view it in low-vegetation conditions so you can really see what features it offers. The South is blessed with an exceptional game population, and subsequently we have long hunting seasons. In Alabama, our whitetail deer hunting season runs from mid-October until the end of January. For safety, you need to know before you go onto a tract that no hunters are present. Additionally it is a good idea to wear bright colors, preferably blaze orange to make you are visible to any outdoorsmen in the area. The same rule applies to turkey hunting in the spring. I keep a few extra orange hats and vests in my truck, so if you come with me you’re covered, but if not please plan ahead and be safe.
If you follow these common-sense tips, you won't have to waste any of your time or energy on the small things - making your outing not only safer, but also more profitable.
Are you ready to visit rural properties? Take a look at land for sale throughout the South on our parent company's website. RaydientPlaces.com.
