Walking land in Kalispell MT
Do you dream of owning a piece of Montana paradise? Do you want to go looking for the perfect land parcel? Have you found a real estate broker who will walk the land with you? Did you pick out a few land listings that you want to know better? Do you have to know anything before you go? Yes!
Here are some tips if you are planning to walk the land.
Looking at land can be slightly different than looking at homes. Depending on the size and location, you might need a few more preparations. Here are just a few thoughts from a land-loving broker that might help your land hunting experience go smoother.
Land in subdivision/development
There isn’t too much to do differently when looking at land in a subdivision than you would do if looking for a home. Except footwear. Even if the land parcel is only a quarter acre or an acre in size, you will want to actually walk on it. Is the ground solid or mushy? Any evidence of unwanted water collecting? Which direction has the best views? Is there enough sun for a small vegetable garden? In order to check these things out appropriately, you need to wear appropriate footwear. Sneakers or boots, depending on the weather. Otherwise, no special instructions necessary.
Acreage
However, if you are going to be looking at larger parcels there are several things to keep in mind.
Time: You’ll need to set aside enough time to truly explore the land. Where are the property borders? Are there any good building spots already available? Are there any areas that would provide great views? If your land abuts national forest or timber company land, what is access like? What kind of trees are on the property? Can you sell/use any? Are they good for firewood? Is the property already parked out? Are there any water sources on the land? Is the ground rocky which might make building expensive? If it’s riverfront or lakefront land, what does the water access look like?
If you are looking at one acre parcels, obviously you’ll need a lot less time per listing than you might if you were looking at 20 or 100 acres. If you truly want to check out the land, I’d estimate you need a half hour minimum for a one or two acre parcel and at least an hour for a larger one. So depending on your energy levels, the weather, etc, you might not want to try to see too many properties on the same day.
Clothing: If you are going to be walking in the woods, you will want to make sure you’re properly prepared. Hiking shoes/boots would be great for traipsing through the woods. Warm socks if it’s chilly and foot warmers stuck in your boots if it’s freezing. The weather can change frequently, so dressing in layers is a great idea. Even in summer, it might be helpful to NOT be charging through woods wearing shorts.
Safety: Depending on where you are looking for property, you may need to take some additional precautions. This is Montana, and you could see any number of wild animals. Seeing them of course is not a problem, but should one become antagonistic, you might want to be prepared. Carrying bear spray would be a great idea if you are going into the woods. You also might want to bring a walking stick with you to help not only with walking safely on rocky and/or hilly terrain, but to use if needed as a weapon!
This advice is not intended to worry anyone. Animals typically won’t be seen while out and about especially if we are making noise and talking. Some of the animals you are likely to see are deer, chipmunks, squirrels, grouse and turkeys; all are totally harmless. On occasion we might be lucky enough to see elk, but those would be far away. There are also fox and coyote around, but they don’t want to see you any more than you want to see them. As for bear, well, that’s what the bear spray is for, but again, during most of the year you probably won’t see any. And if they are around, they’d probably run off. Probably.
Gadgets: Carry your cell phone. The first reason is because you’re going to want to know if cell service is available on the property. What will it be like when trying to make a call if you select site A or site B for your home? If you have to use your cell as an Internet hotspot, is there enough power?
The second reason to bring a phone is because there are apps such as Onx Hunt that will provide assistance in knowing where you might be in terms of property lines. It’s extremely helpful to know when you’re walking in the right direction! So if you have access to a similar app on your phone, that’s another reason to bring it.
Another thing you might want to throw in your pocket is a compass, although there might be one on your phone. It’s helpful to know if a particular hill will be perfect for that vegetable or flower garden. And to find your way back to the car!
Snacks – There might not be a store or place to eat that is convenient to properties you are investigating. So bring whatever you might need while on your land hunt. Water, granola bars, or anything else you might desire.
Vehicle – If you are meeting your agent at Kalispell area property, you should take your four wheel drive. Some parcels are easy to get to, on a public and paved road. But there are a fair amount of gravel mountain roads which often require traversing up and down bumpy hills. A rugged vehicle is a great idea!
Summary
Looking at property which does not already have a driveway, home or easy access will take a little planning in order to have a smooth and fun experience. Walking land in Kalispell MT requires a bit of preparation.If you would like me to help you find your land here, I’ll be properly prepared! And now you will too!
Call me at 406-270-3667 or email me at kat@thehousekat.com if you want help purchasing land in the Kalispell area. It would be my pleasure to throw on my boots!