The Single Most Important Thing When It Comes To Property Development
Whether you’re starting with raw land or improving an established homestead, you need to know the most important tip when it comes to property development.
If you’ve recently bought property, or are thinking about buying land, your mind is probably swirling with all the possibilities…and all the work that comes with it. It’s easy to get side-tracked (been there, done that!) But if we’ve learned anything, it’s this one important tip when it comes to property development, and specifically homestead property development.
I can’t stress this enough – it applies to every aspect of your property, in every stage of development. So many times I’ve heard people say, “I wish I had thought of that when…” or “if I was doing this again I would…” or “well we should have done that, but now…”
The single most important thing you can do when it comes to property development, and specifically homestead property development, is to plan ahead.
Of course, you can’t see into the future and account for everything. But there are some key questions and aspects to think through when planning ahead for your homestead. The key points to go through when making a decision for your homestead are:
- What is your vision for the property?
- Take time to observe all characteristics of your property.
- What are your non-negotiables or must-haves? What ideas are more flexible?
- Is this the best use for this area?
- Are there any other projects that might temporarily or permanently interfere?
Each decision you make will impact your homestead. But don’t let that intimidate you!
Yes, every decision will help shape your homestead, but not every decision is a huge event. It could be as simple as planting a fruit tree, or as major as deciding where your house will be. Let’s go into more detail on what these key aspects are.
What is your vision for the property?
Most people who have invested in land already have somewhat of a vision for it, but still, this is such an import aspect that it deserves mentioning. Your vision should include physical layout of your property as well as goals for your homestead. It doesn’t need to be super precise, but rather, a bird’s eye view.
Having a vision can help you make decisions in two ways. For one, it can help with the flow of your property. If you start with no vision and just randomly place things, nothing will flow! Having a vision is really important for the physical aspect of your homestead.
Second, if you’re making decisions with an overall vision in mind, you will stay more focused on your goals. When you’re focused on your goals, planning ahead effectively is so much easier!
Take time to observe all aspects of your property.
This is a vital aspect of property development, from deciding where your garden should go, to building a road, to which angle your home should be placed to optimize natural light. Take time to observe all features of your property. This includes but not limited to: sunlight, water flow, soil types, air/wind flow, noise and light pollution, terrain and climate.
You should also take notice of what native plant and tree species grow on your property – this is a great indicator of soil, sunlight and water characteristics. Also, it’s important that you observe your property in all seasons.
Getting to know your property can help you plan ahead in many different ways. First, it will make you aware of certain tendencies that may be problematic. That information will help you plan accordingly and avoid extra headaches later on.
Second, it will give you confidence in knowing you’re making the right decision. Knowing your land well will set you up for success – from making sure you buy the right forage species for your pasture, to growing the most productive garden.
What are your non-negotiables or must-haves? What ideas are more flexible?
It’s crucial to consider which things are most important to you. While you can always change course, this will help you plan your homestead optimally by ensuring space for your top-priority items. This also will (hopefully) help prevent backtracking later on in your property development.
Not only does prioritizing help optimize space on your homestead, but it also helps optimize your wallet. When you have a clear list of top-priority items, organized into a chronological order, it helps to reduce unnecessary or poorly timed spending.
Is this the best use for this area?
This question is so important when you’re trying to plan ahead for your homestead. Probably almost every area of your property could have multiple uses, so really thinking about the all the possible uses before making a final decision is crucial.
This question can be overwhelming, however, if you don’t have a clear vision and you haven’t prioritized your goals. Going through the key aspects above first will help you in deciding the best use for a particular area.
Are there any other projects that might temporarily or permanently interfere?
Oftentimes, projects will overlap, and some projects depend on one another. It’s important to recognize this so you have a clear path forward, and don’t get hung up trying to complete one thing before another. (Guilty of this…)
There could also be a physical interference. For example, knowing where your water lines, electrical lines, or other underground infrastructure will be is important to know before planting trees.
Whether you are starting with a blank slate of land like we did, or are improving an existing homestead, it’s crucial to plan ahead. Not only can planning ahead save you headaches later on, it can also get you to your goals faster.
Chances are, you’ve already thought through several of the key aspects above – if not all – without even realizing it!
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just running through these things in your mind before making a decision can help save you time, headaches, and money – and give you the confidence in making the right decision for your homestead.
We don’t always get it right – we’ve made some mistakes we’ll have to correct later on. It’s not always a perfect formula, and there will probably be things you didn’t think of. But this process has helped us in our homestead development so far, and we hope it helps you too!
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