It’s a nice dream for many people to think about what their life would be like in the countryside. A rural property could be a nice mid-life or later-life investment, or perhaps you’ll give up the annoying city commutes and move this year. A bit of extra land and knowing your neighbors intimately can be a big motivator for some people.
But it’s also true that rural individuals move too, and sometimes to properties with larger amounts of land to deal with. The jump from a quarter-acre suburban lot to fifty acres of rural property is so much different than most people expect. You go from mowing for an hour on Saturday morning to looking at fields, woods, and access roads that are all your responsibility now. The maintenance schedule changes completely.
Most city dwellers have never dealt with drainage ditches, private roads, or the logistics of clearing fallen trees from areas you can barely reach with a regular vehicle. That’s not a condemnation of people who live in more urban environments of course, it’s just a different pace of life, but can be quite a shock if you change between them. Moreover, the property might include wetlands, forest areas, or open fields that each need different approaches throughout the year. Learning how to manage all this takes time.
In this post, we aim to help you achieve the best outcome:
Walk Your Property First
You have to be familiar with your land first and foremost. Of course, this should mean spending time walking different areas during different weather conditions. You’ll find out how water moves across the land and terrain, or where problem areas develop, and what infrastructure needs attention, like older sheds that are close to deteriorating.
We’d also recommend you pay attention to existing fences, gates, and access roads during these walks. These elements require ongoing maintenance and can cost serious money to replace if they deteriorate too far. Understanding their current condition helps you budget and prioritize maintenance tasks, or at least lets you know what to get rid of, such as poor runoff implementation from the previous owner.
Equipment Needs Change With Acreage
Managing multiple acres will sometimes need different tools than suburban property maintenance. The most obvious is that of a riding mower, which should become necessary for grass areas that would take all day to cut with a walk behind mower. Learning how to use chainsaws safely should also become standard equipment for dealing with fallen branches and basic tree maintenance.
Leaf management across large properties with mature trees is important too, if you want to avoid constant slush and a messy aesthetic, which means you’ll need equipment that can handle volume and distance. The best cordless leaf blower for rural applications needs extended battery life and enough power to move wet leaves and debris across your land areas without constant recharging stops.
If you really want to invest in the property’s upkeep, a utility vehicle or at least a rural vehicle you can drive will help with transportation, supplies, and accessing remote areas of the property that might be difficult to reach on foot. These vehicles serve multiple purposes and often be safer and capable, just be certain you know how to drive the land and do so slowly and with caution. Also make sure you have equipment like pull winches to get you out of a tight spot.
Seasonal Routines Should Inform You
Keep in mind that seasonal exposure is much more pressing when you’re exposed to every single element out there. Every spring, putting in place a check of damage from freeze-thaw cycles is essential. That also means clearing of drainage areas, and preparation of access roads for the growing season. You might need to repair potholes in driveways or your local road, and convince neighbors to share the burden.
No one can prepare you for every use case, which is why paying close attention to how your property is affected by the weather patterns in your area can is such an important investment of your time. Make sure to note down any issues so you can catch them next time. Maybe you’ll find that sun exposure in a given area is so good that a hefty investment in solar panel infrastructure is more than worth it.
Water Management Matters More On Large Properties
Water is of course essential for life, but farmers or those with larger rural properties will no doubt smile if we say how much of a pain it is to manage. You first have to begin understanding how water moves across your property, which can differ depending on where you are. If you’re located at the top of a hill, flooding might not be as pressing for you. But in any case, poor drainage can cause foundation issues, create muddy areas, and lead to erosion that damages roads, structures, and landscaping.
As such, you might need to maintain existing drainage ditches, install culverts under driveways, or create new drainage solutions to ensure it flows well. Properties with natural water features like ponds, streams, or wetlands will also have specific management approaches and might have regulations you need to adhere to as well, or even pay consultants and specialist services to manage.
Emergency Preparedness Is A Vital Part Of Home Management
Rural properties more often than not will depend on private roads or long driveways that take more focused maintenance to ensure emergency vehicle access. Keeping access routes clear of branches, repairing potholes, and ensuring enough vehicle-accessing width becomes a safety issue. The last thing you need is an ambulance not being able to get past when you need it most.
Also remember that power outages will generally last longer in rural areas, because utility companies will prioritize more densely populated areas for repairs. Having backup power sources, heating methods, and a radio that work without landline service can help you at this time, as can having tools, supplies, and backup food and water. Always plan for the just-in-case scenario, and you’ll be better off. How does this relate to land? Because if you have longer to travel, an emergency may need to be dealt with immediately before specialist support could reach you.
With this advice, you’ll be much more likely to manage more land when moving to a rural property, with care and attention.