Before Buying Land
Define your goals and expectations:
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Privacy |
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View |
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Cost of land and development/improvement |
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Location in regard to schools, services, ferry, etc. |
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Open land or woods |
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Functions (house, garden, pasture, shop, orchard, woodlot, pond, etc.) |
Look at the land and note features:
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Slope |
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Soil consistency |
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Signs of erosion |
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Vegetation |
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Wetlands or streams |
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Condition of bluff |
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Wind patterns |
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Water table |
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Surrounding land use (neighbors, potential clearcuts, potential developments, zoning, etc.) |
Consider Costs:
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Water: Be sure there is adequate water for your needs. Determine total cost of obtaining water (hook-up to existing water systems, well installations) |
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Utilities: Power and telephone |
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Septic Systems: Require a soil log (perc test) to help you determine the probable cost of an on-site septic system. |
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Surface Water Drainage |
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Easements: Make sure you have necessary easements for access and that you are aware of any limiting easements which might exist. |
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Clearing and Grading: Determine the costs of clearing for view, house-site, etc. and road construction and grading. |
Before Building Consider:
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Property Lines: Make sure you know where property lines are. |
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Legal Building Site: Be certain that you have room to build given possible constraints such as wetland or stream buffers, bluff setbacks, or local covenants. Check zoning. |
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Access Permit Requirements: Contact Island County Permit Center for requirements if your access is from a county road. |
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House-site: Consider the position of the Sun in the winter and if the site will get enough light. |
Elliott Menashe, Greenbelt Consulting
P.O. Box 601, Clinton, WA 98236
360.341.3433
Written by Elliott Menashe of Greenbelt Consulting, an environmental education, assessment, and management service in the Pacific Northwest.
This material is available for use by non-profit organizations and public education. All other uses or repurposing requires the permission of the author. This information is protected by Copyright © Law 2004.
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