When selecting a homestead, evaluating a specific property is where the rubber meets the road. So far, you have invested time and effort into:

* Core Values

* Counting the Costs

* Choosing a Region 

* Finding Your Property 

When evaluating a specific property, that work can now begin to pay off.

See notes below.

Good, but inexpensive property goes fast. If you have applied the steps provided in this series, you should be familiar enough with the market to recognize an opportunity. This will enable you to move on it quickly before your competition snatches it up.

Tools for Evaluating a Specific Property

* GPS – Here’s my favorite on Amazon: Garmin Nuvi 67LM 6-Inch GPS Navigator

* Pen, paper & folder

* Camera – Not the cheapest, but awesome: Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera

* Compass – This cheap one works just fine: Levenhuk DC45 Compass

* Measuring tapes (100’ & 16/25’) – This is the handiest tape measure: Komelon SL2825 Self Lock 25-Foot Power Tape. And this is my goto 100′ tape: Komelon 100’Long Steel Tape Measure.

* Shovel

* Ph soil tester – Very handy around the homestead: Soil pH Meter

Acreage

The amount you actually need will depend upon features list and the usability of the land.

Evaluating a Specific Property’s Soil

Soil is a critical foundation for any homestead. Buying soil, even in bulk, can get very expensive, very quickly. Augmenting soil can also be expensive and time consuming. Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a specific property’s soil:

* Contamination?

* Non-compacted, airy, breathable

* Dark soil normally good

* Smell

* Ph

* Nutrients

* Clay vs loamy – a rich, friable soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt and a somewhat smaller proportion of clay.

* Sand

* Depth

* Rock?

* Have tested?

Evaluating a Specific Property’s Terrain & Topography

* Flat vs hilly

* Woods vs pasture

* Flood zone

* South facing area for garden and/or solar

Privacy, Security & Safety

* Current privacy become non-private?

* Natural disasters

* Interview neighbors

* Road frontage vs flag lots

* Escape route?

Evaluating a Specific Property’s Infrastructure

* Raw land? – As I mentioned in the episode, this product is very useful for securing mulch from being washed out, especially on steep slopes: Mulch lock

* House

* Paved roads

* Bridge weight limit restrictions

* Fences/gates

* Irrigation hydrants

* Green house

* Storage, barns, sheds & awnings

* Fuel tanks

* Driveways

* Fire breaks

* Garden beds

* Pond or creek

* Overall condition – Bad smell can be a huge turn off for home buyers, but can create great opportunities. This machine can eliminate almost any smell: A2Z Ozone Aqua 6 Multi Purpose Ozone Generator.

In the next episode, wrapping up the Selecting a Homestead Location series,