Going to look at a piece of property tomorrow. The problem with these sorts of pieces of property is that you often seem to have to navigate a labyrinth of dirt roads of varying quality that often, because of terrain, need to switchback, loop, dogleg, and otherwise snake through the terrain. Google Earth is definitely useful for getting an idea of the path to take, but a GPS loaded with the appropriate maps is also a requirement.
My goals tomorrow are to see how navigable the road is, what the terrain on the property is like, investigate the purported water sources on the property, locate and GPS mark at least one of the corner pins, and generally get a feel for things. If, and only if, all that checks out…then its time to start figuring my plan of attack. My research shows the owners are out of state (California, of course) and that they haven’t been to the property in years. To me, that sounds like people who inherited it and might appreciate a fast all-cash sale. Just how much cash is going to be the challenging part.
If that goes through (and thats a heavy if), then its time to start prioritizing things. Most notably will be getting a current survey done to get a detailed map of the place, pins in place, and some very exact ideas of where the boundaries are. And setting up whatever sort of legal fiction is necessary to maintain privacy.
Maybe spend a few weekends out there camping as I explore the place to get a feel for it and think about what exactly I want to do with it and where.
But, thats all putting the cart before the horse. I’ll walk it tomorrow and see what happens. If I don’t like it, I’ll hand it off to you guys and you can see if it’s something youre interested in.
And, as is slowly dawning on me, the purchase of the property may be the cheapest part of the whole affair. Once that’s done its time for wells, septic, foundations, infrastructure, fuels, landscaping (or, more accurately, terraforming), etc, etc. I’ve been searching for property for so long now that Im like the dog that chases cars and then doesn’t know what to do with one if he caught it.
Guess we’ll see tomorrow if its a car worth chasing. Should be interesting.
Oh, and you know what the most useless-but-fun part of this process is? Coming up with the cool name for the place. I’ve often referred to it as Commander Zero’s Post-Nuclear Bunker O’ Love And Lingerie Proving Ground but I might need something a little bit more succinct for the shoulder patch.
The Shack
Sounds exciting. Have fun, and here’s hoping this is the one.
here’s an idea. Someone buys some land, we have a get together like an Amish barn raising, hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, etc. Find a good spot for a small ‘root cellar’, cistern and a composting pit toilet. Dig it out in a weekend (rent a backhoe?) and presto, temporary quarters for the build out.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z1u0l6zXIF0
Good luck! Looking forward to posts after property purchase!
We have to name it? Sheesh, I didn’t know! We have our place (not quite so out in the middle of nowhere BUT a great place when it hits the fan) and I can say, getting the land is fun, but the money, time, and build suck after that is huge. Big thing though is to just enjoy it. Enjoy going to visit it, enjoy every part of the build. Now I gotta go figure out a name for mine…. Hope to hear good news on this land for you!
Temple of Doom?
Rancho Ballistico?
Area 52?
Safehaven?
Alpha Site?
I suspect there will be a great many responses in this post.
Actually, if you read back, I’ve often referred to the future place as ‘the Beta Site’.
What happened to Alpha Site?
Beta late than never?
Common Assistance Metrics- Studies and Operations Group (CAM- SOG)? Maybe put Vanilla in front for VCAM- SOG? (Nah.)
keep “Lingerie Proving Ground” the rest is optional….
Lace Overwatch.
Good luck, hope it turns out the way you want it!! Fingers crossed!
Due to some things that happened during (mostly tangled and obscure mineral rights) and after the Aquisition of the acreage we got.
It’s name is semi-officially “Rancho Snakebit”.
Farnham’s Freehold… CZ’s Freehold?
As the lingerie proving ground is the important part –
Area 69?
“The problem with these sorts of pieces of property is that you often seem to have to navigate a labyrinth of dirt roads of varying quality that often, because of terrain, need to switchback, loop, dogleg, and otherwise snake through the terrain.”
Is that not part and parcel (pardon the pun) of property that’s out of the way and not easily obvious, accessible and / or findable to the uninvited … which I believe are some of your criteria? Not trying to be a jerk, but at some level these are features not bugs.
There are reasons currently undeveloped property is undeveloped – distance from existing centers, difficulty of access, usability of terrain for intended purpose, and availability of services. There are enough people in the country that the ones that are easy have been done already and someone is using them.
Perhaps if the fedgov releases land in the southwest that will change somewhat, but I’m cynical enough to believe that will go to insiders first.
Anyway, best wishes for it going well, and looking forward to the visit writeup.
CZ’s Naturalist retreat for wayward Co-Eds. I like Beta site, but too close to the whole beta male thing and would have to call it Omega site or Outpost Charlie Zulu instead. Or just go by Happy Acres and throw everyone off guard.
“Maybe spend a few weekends out there camping” – maybe get the current owner’s permission, and maybe offer a refundable deposit, to spend two weekends out there camping BEFORE ya decide on whether it’s for you, or not. Sometimes, a home or property that looks good on paper or looks good in the daytime is a different situation at night, or over time – maybe talk with some of the nearby neighbors – maybe take the local Sheriff and\or Game Warden out to lunch?
Consider if the entrance road allows trucks/trailers to access the property (perhaps with relatively modest improvements). You will need visits from a well drilling rig, a trailer bearing a septic tank, (eventually) a septic pumping service, propane trucks, construction equipment such as a backhoe on a trailer and, perhaps, a trailer bearing logs or frames plus trusses for cabin/house construction. All of that makes those tight switchbacks problematic.
CZ’s FAFO Resort
Before you buy it, it’d be a good idea to find out if it has had a “perk” test to be sure the ground will handle a septic system. If it hasn’t you should made the sale contitional on the land passing one. In Tennessee that determines the site and size of your septic system and to a degree where your house can go.
As for a name, how about The Hide Site?
Opsec is important, so something like ‘the laundromat’ or ‘down on the beach’ may be appropriate. If it is steep enough, call it ‘the airport.’
You do realize that some of us actually had to locate places, property, roads, etc. before there were GPS, right? /sarc
Take a roll of surveyor’s tape – or two or three to mark route, pins, etc. No one looks twice at them – twice around the branch and a simple overhand knot.
(“I’m so old that there were only 48 states when I was born.)
Before you get completely carried away I suggest that you read Don Shift’s book “Lessons from the Rhodesian Bush War”
I don’t know what the answer is but his book points out some important lessons
Buying the land is just the first part. Yeah, you got that right. Tractor/skid steer/side by side/quad. Pumps, hose, discharge line. Generators, log splitters, chainsaws, post hole diggers. Sheds, outbuildings, fence stuff. Piles of dirt, stone, gravel, compost. Trash burn barrel/slash pile. Barrels, buckets, tubs…
The list is long, the needs are varied, but the end is worth it.
n
The obvious name for the place is Ground Zero.