If you are a landowner in Columbia, you may have thought about selling the land as opposed to paying the high property taxes year after year. The market for people looking for land is typically much smaller, therefore it is important to make your land as desirable as possible to potential buyers. In our latest post, we will talk more about some things you can do when getting your land ready for a sale in Columbia!
One of the most important aspects of selling your Columbia land is to prepare the lots to be seen by potential buyers. The good news is that there isn’t likely a ton of work to do as opposed to selling a house. However, there are some things you should definitely consider.
Is The Property Easily Accessible?
Even if the property is in a rural spot, you will want to make sure it has an access road that is in excellent condition. While you might not mind a few bumps in the road, you will want to let potential buyers get to the property without getting a flat tire! The better the condition the road is in, the better your property will appear to people viewing it. If the road leading to your property lasts for miles, there is no need to pave the whole thing if it is currently dirt. However, there is still quite a bit you can do. Fill any holes, use crushed rock where needed, and level out any bumps.
If the road to your Columbia land is to be maintained by the county you live in, now is the time to give them a call and very politely let them know if there is some maintenance work to be done.Many of these smaller roads will often go unrepaired if nobody calls to complain about them. Be diligent and request to have the road fixed if there is any damage to it.
Clean Up ANYTHING That Makes The Property Look Junky
You might have already done this when you bought the property. However, if you haven’t, now is the time to do so! Aside from any structures that add value to the property, remove everything that didn’t grow on the land naturally. If there are building foundations or partial buildings, have them torn-down and removed. If there are old tires, trach, or larger items people have discarded on your land, have it all removed right away. Clean up any litter and make it look as tidy as possible. People will be much more drawn to a cleaned up piece of land as opposed to a property that looks like a junkyard! Make sure you adhere to local laws if you plan on burning anything on the property. Never burn any items such as old tires, wires, treated or painted wood, plastics, garbage, heavy oils, asphalt materials, building materials, or agricultural and household chemicals. Take any of these items to a local disposal site where they can be taken care of properly.
Clearly Mark The Boundaries
People want to know what they are buying. It can be difficult to show the 6 acres you are selling if it is a wide open area. Marking the boundaries doesn’t have to be complex. Using some 2×4’s with some flag markers is one easy way. Make sure you are correct in your markings. If you aren’t 100% sure, it is best to bring it in a little until you can have a land surveyor properly do the markings for you. You don’t want to make the land appear larger, than have people disappointed to find the land is smaller than they had originally thought.
Clear The Brush
Even if the property only has native plants growing, you will want to clear out a good majority of it. You don’t have to chop down trees or anything, leave that at the discretion of the new owner. However, your potential buyer should be able to envision using the land for themselves. This means being able to build a house or other building. It will also allow people to better see what they are buying. You can’t see the other side of the property if there are tall shrubs blocking the view! If your property doesn’t sell right away, you might consider hiring a company to do some maintenance on the property every few weeks!