Cabin life - Finding the perfect country property

A useful list to help you get everything you desire in a property for your rustic cabin life.

Some important things to consider before buying a rustic property and embarking on rustic cabin life.

When we bought our country getaway we had a list of all the things we desired. We didn't expect to satisfy every wish on our list but it clarified what we were looking for and helped our Realtor determine which properties were worth taking a look at.

Our list included a 5 - 15 acre property within two hours of the city, lots of trees, a view, rolling terrain, a "funky" wood cabin, services (gas, water, electricity, and phone) installed, within a kilometer (just over half a mile) from the water, for under a specific price.

As it turned out, pretty much all but one of our criteria were met. The nearest lake was three kilometers (one mile) away.

What is it your heart desires?

Here's a checklist to help you define the ideal property for your rustic cabin life

• Size of property
• Hilly or flat
• Open land
• Mountains
• Waterfront (lake or river?) or proximity to water
• Trees and woodlands
• View
• On paved road
• Proximity to paved road
• Size of house
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Type of house - log, timber, stone, siding?
• What condition? Immaculate? Fixer upper?
• Year round? Seasonal?
• Who will use it? You? Family? Friends? Customers?
• Outbuildings - garage, workshop, barn
• Secluded or near neighbors
• Distance from the city or a major center (start by drawing a circle that defines the maximum distance you are prepared to drive and focus your search within that circle). Will gas prices affect how far you are willing to travel?
• Services (gas, electricity, telephone, water and sewer, or well and septic)
• Close to hospital (may be important if you have a health condition)
• Proximity to amenities such as stores, gas stations
• Proximity to schools
• Distance from an airport
• Internet access
• Fire protection
• Attractions in the area

Recreation

What kinds of activities will be part of your cabin life?

• hiking or walking
• swimming
• canoeing
• kayaking
• water skiing
• fishing
• hunting
• biking
• horseback riding
• all terrain vehicles
• gardening
• downhill skiing
• cross country skiing
• snowmobiling
• snowshoeing

Additional tips

Use the internet to search for your property but check it out in person.

Real estate descriptions can be, well... misleading to put it nicely. Photos are helpful and can be enticing but they have their drawbacks. Despite the ease of digital photography, many photos in real estate listings are of poor quality, plus they only show what they want you to see. What's beyond the picture? It may not be what you expect at all!

You can also use Google Earth to check out surrounding properties from an aerial view. It's not the same as being there but it will show you what to look for when you visit.

Don't buy property when it's covered with snow unless you've seen the property before the snow falls! Snow can cover a multitude of sins. You want to know exactly what you are getting - no surprises.

If the property has a well, have the water tested. Check out the water pressure and pumping capacity of the pump.

Talk to people - neighbors, towns people, community associations, anyone you can to get a feel for the community.

Check out who and what your neighbors are. Years ago when we were starting out we naively bought a country property near a chicken farm. Bad decision. It stunk when the wind was blowing our direction. Fortunately we sold the property (for a profit) without difficulty (the wind must have been blowing the other way). Phew.

Check out the municipal plans for the area. Is a highway or a pipeline going in near, or even through, your property in the future? How heart breaking would it be to find your shangrila only to have it expropriated or to have its value deflated by detrimental development nearby?

Pros and cons

When you think you have found the perfect property, try to keep your emotions in check. One of the things we've done - again to clarify our thinking - is to draw up a list of pros and cons. It helps us make a rational decision and to confront any downsides logically.

Caveat emptor

Use a lawyer. Even if the deal seems straightforward and the sellers seem like really nice folk... you need a lawyer to check everything out and to protect your interests.

Have the property inspected. A professional inspection should identify most shortcomings that may not be visible or evident to you. It will cost a few hundred dollars but could be worth thousands to you down the road.

Careful planning, prudent assessment - and perhaps a bit of patience - and you'll find the cabin life and the property you are searching for.