This article is all about researching land and it is more or less the 'checklist' that I go through when I am looking at a place where I might become a caretaker at or even just be living at for a time while looking for a new caretaking gig.
This is just my personal checklist and not intended to be super thorough or meet everyone's needs. Some of the information is just good for me to know when going into a new place so that I know what I am up against as a land steward and property caretaker.
I have come across the necessity of asking these questions the hard way and thought to share them so that others might not have to discover their significance in a similar manner.
These questions are in no particular order of priority but I think each one is very important in and of itself and although I have only lived within the continental United States I think I would still ask many of the same questions living elsewhere.
- #1 Are there superfund sites near the property?
Some good resources for this sort of information can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/search-superfund-sites-where-you-live
Search via address and more here: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/srchsites.cfm
A good resource for hazardous waste cleanup in an area: https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-community
An interactive map that shows superfund sites in an area: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/superfund/
An interactive map to find toxic sites near an area: http://www.toxicsites.us/
- #2 Are the boundaries of the property well established and defined?
The actual boundaries of a place can be found via county GIS tax maps.
You can also learn about a property's zoning, structures, well(s), septic systems, deeds and more via GIS.
There is also usually a picture of the dwellings on a property if they exist.
Learn more about GIS here: https://researchguides.library.wisc.edu/GIS
- #3 Are there heavily polluting industries near the property?
This is a tricky one but one well worth researching online. One of the best tools for this is to learn what the local industries there are and do your research accordingly.
- #4 Does the property have cellular service?
This can often be found via consulting various cellular service providers 'coverage maps' for the area but keep in mind that terrain, buildings and trees can weaken or altogether block a cellular signal. I highly recommend checking the cellular signal by physically visiting the site yourself.
- #5 How close is the nearest cellular tower?
Sites like https://cellmapper.net/map https://opensignal.com and http://www.cellreception.com are some useful tools in doing this but I highly recommend using either the OpenSignal Android App or a simpler but no longer maintained Android App called Antennas.
- #6 What is the property zoned for?
This can be found via a GIS tax map for the county in question.
- #7 How are the neighbors?
This is always a tricky one but by using the mailing and/or physical address of the neighbors within a mile of a place to search through the local 'Sherrif's News' or 'Police Blotter' can be very helpful. Also just using the names of the neighbors in an online search engine accompanied by the town name can be helpful. For those interested in a more thorough and comprehensive (invasive) understanding of the neighbors sites like https://instantcheckmate.com can be helpful. Doing standard criminal background checks or credit reports can also be helpful but also costly.
- #8 What are the landowners status/relationship with the neighbors?
Folks are not always forthcoming about this information but it is well worth asking so you do not get blind-sided by 'bad blood' (pre-existing hostilities) that you know nothing about.
- #9 Are there venomous snakes on the property?
This is a good question to ask the landowner and neighbors but I would not fully trust what they say and do your own research via the local Forestry Department.
- #10 Are there a lot of thievery arrests in the area?
This is rather easy information to find out by consulting the local 'Sheriff's News' or 'Police Blotter' in the area in question and well worth the time it takes to find out.
- #11 Are there heavy drug users in the area?
Again this is rather easy information to find out by consulting the local 'Sheriff's News' or 'Police Blotter' in the area in question and well worth the time it takes to find out.
- #12 Are there registered sex offenders in the area?
I recommend using the https://www.nsopw.gov website and using the 'search by location' function found there.
- #13 How close are the nearest stores?
Google maps and it's Nearby feature is good to find this answer
https://maps.google.com/
You can learn how to search for nearby places here: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/4610185?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
- #14 Is there a discount grocery store in the area?
You can search for United Grocery Outlet Stores in the Southeast here: http://www.myugo.com/locations/
If you know of other discount/outlet stores I recommend searching for them by name.
- #15 Does the property provide seclusion and privacy?
Google satellite maps and the GIS satellite maps are great for this but are not foolproof and I highly recommend a firsthand visual inspection of a place and be aware that in many northern places the trees will lose their foliage during the colder months and that could affect the privacy/seclusion of a place.
- #16 Does the property have storage structures or dwelling shelters on it?
This is obviously a question to ask a landowner but also easy to find out by consulting satellite imagery and/or the local GIS tax website. Some structures are difficult to find this way because they could be underground or beneath heavy foliage from the tree canopy so a physical site inspection is best.
This can generally be found with GIS maps and property tax information but is not always reliable.
- #17 What condition are the structures on the property in?
Pictures of the structures are okay but a firsthand visual inspection is ideal. There are also contractors that will do such inspections for a fee. Keep in mind that something being in 'good shape' is a highly subjective opinion.
- #18 Are there a lot of ticks on the property?
The only way to really find this out is by visiting a place during the warmer months or speaking with someone that has spent time outdoors there during those months.
- #19 Does the property have trees and if so what variety are they?
Trees are hard to identify from satellite imagery so it is good to do a visual inspection or ask someone that might know like the landowner or previous landowner. Keep in mind that large pine trees produce lots of sap that drops on everything while trees like box elders tend to be susceptible to wind sheer and trees like large poplars shed large spear-like branches.
- #20 Has the property ever been used as a dumping grounds for trash or other waste?
This is a tricky one because most folks either do not know the answer or are hesitant to be honest about it if they do.
The only good way to find out is by walking the property and visually inspecting it which is not foolproof because the waste/trash could have been buried underground.
- #21 Has the water on the property been tested for contaminants and bacteria?
Always get the water on a property tested and I mean all water like creeks, springs, wells, ponds, lakes and even stagnant pools. You can learn alot about what is in the ground by what is in the water.
Remember that 'water over there is water over here' and that waterways can carry contaminants long distances so researching what is 'upstream' of a place is very important even if it is many miles away.
- #22 How common are wild fires near the property?
This can be found out through the local Fire Marshal or the Forestry Department.
Also just doing an online search for the name of the town and 'fire' can be illuminating.
- #23 Is the property prone to lightning strikes?
This is one of those things that is tricky to tell because I have yet to find a good resource to find this out from. All I can advise is asking people that have lived on or near the property about lightning strikes. Also if there are a lot of lightning struck trees on a property then the answer is self-evident.
- #24 Is the property in an area subject to natural disasters?
This one is pretty easy to find just by doing research online about an area and including search terms like: flooding, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, mud slide, avalanche and so forth.
- #25 Does the property have established postal service?
This is an important one because in many places you cannot establish postal service without having at least a permitted well and septic on site and often a physical dwelling that is equally permitted to be built or has a certificate of occupancy.
As a side note getting a Post Office box can be equally challenging without having a physical address or a lease or utility bill attached to a physical address. In some places you can use the Sheriff's office and 911 services to acquire and verify a physical address but this is more the exception than the rule but works well in remote areas where building codes and zoning regulations are not overly restrictive.
My advice is to check with the local Post Master in the area to find out what is required to receive mail either via a physical mailbox or through the local Post Office.
- #26 Is the property near an airport or military base where there will be constant noise from air traffic?
Airports are rather easy to research and find if they are in an area but also checking for flight paths of air traffic is essential.
Finding military bases is not all that difficult either but I would not rely on satellite maps to do so because these sorts of installations are often obfuscated on maps for 'security' reasons as are prisons and other such places.
- #27 Is the property near a highway or interstate where there will be constant noise?
Online or physical maps are quite reliable for finding this information but it is worth noting that due to features of terrain the noise from highways and roads can travel long distances.
- #28 Does the property have a history of trespassers and/or poachers?
This is a question well worth asking not just the landowner(s) but also the surrounding neighbors. You can also find signs of this by physically visiting a property and walking around it. There is generally a lot of trash and munition casings left behind if this is the case along with trails, paths and vehicle tracks that indicate what sort of activity has been occurring on a property.
As a side note be prepared to deal with some kind of backlash if you disrupt folks from being able to poach, steal plants, steal timber/firewood or 'party' at a place they are accustomed to doing so at.
- #29 Does the property have a septic system?
This can often be found through the local GIS tax website but not all septic systems are permitted and some even pre-date the permitting process altogether so besides asking the landowners doing an on-site survey can be helpful if you know what you are looking for. It is also worth looking back at old GIS (or satellite images) of the property to find where structures, dwellings or things like campers and trailers once were.
- #30 Does the county that the property is in allow composting toilets?
This can be found out by consulting the local ordinances of a county which can often be found online. I do not recommend calling the local county offices and identifying yourself or the property because if you do compost and it is not allowed you will get a visit from the local authorities in short order. I highly recommend in adhering to the local laws, codes and ordinances.
- #31 What is the minimum size of a building before it needs to be permitted to be constructed?
This can also be found through consulting the county building codes and regulations and is generally easy to find online by looking for 'minimum building size that requires a permit'.
- #32 How many parties are involved in the ownership and usage of the property?
Although this information can be found on a local GIS tax website it does not include all verbal or written agreements between a landowner and other parties. In other words if 'John Smith' has been verbally given permission by a landowner to hunt or get firewood on a property that is good information to be aware of.
- #33 Does the property have grid power available?
This can be found out by asking the landowner or calling the local electric company and finding out whether grid power is available at (or near) a property. Some local regulations and ordinances require a well and/or septic and/or a building permit before they will authorize grid power installation so be diligent in your research because places vary widely in this.
- #34 Does the property have access to clean water?
This is a question for a landowner but you can also check for wells via the local GIS tax website. It is also worth finding out if the water is from a well, a spring or via rain water harvesting. Again do not take folks word for this and get the water tested.
A few other questions worth investigating:
What is the history of the property?
Are there predators like large cats, bears or coyotes on the property?
Does the property get plenty of sunlight throughout the year?
Is the property in or part of a watershed/wetland?
What is the crime rate in the area?
Some articles that I have written in the past that may be of interest:
Research Article #1 (How I Do Research While Off Grid): @jacobpeacock/research-article-1-how-i-do-research-while-off-grid
Inexpensive Devices That I Use Living Off Grid: @jacobpeacock/inexpensive-devices-that-i-use-living-off-grid
How to fix broken glass on a solar panel: @jacobpeacock/how-to-fix-broken-glass-on-a-solar-panel
Video explanation of how to fix broken solar panel glass: @jacobpeacock/video-explanation-of-how-to-fix-broken-solar-panel-glass
A simple spring water capture: @jacobpeacock/a-simple-spring-water-capture
A few Android Apps that I find helpful living off grid: @jacobpeacock/a-few-android-apps-that-i-find-helpful-living-off-grid
Basics For 12 Volt Electric Generation The Easy Way: @jacobpeacock/basics-for-12-volt-electric-generation-the-easy-way
Twin Micro Hydro Turbine Generator: @jacobpeacock/twin-micro-hydro-turbine-generator
Devices For Off-Grid Electricity Generation: @jacobpeacock/devices-for-off-grid-electricity-generation
Simple Off Grid Communication Options: @jacobpeacock/simple-off-grid-communication-options
Some of what I learned recently doing passive gravity fed water systems: https://steemit.com/homesteading/@jacobpeacock/some-of-what-i-learned-recently-doing-passive-gravity-fed-water-systems
How To Build A Simple Check Valve: @jacobpeacock/how-to-build-a-simple-check-valve
A downloadable wealth of information about how to do things: @jacobpeacock/a-downloadable-wealth-of-information-about-how-to-do-things
Don't homestead if...: @jacobpeacock/don-t-homestead-if
Two of my favorite signs to dissuade trespassers: @jacobpeacock/two-of-my-favorite-signs-to-dissuade-trespassers