Looking at a rural property. What to look out for?

[mudski]

Careful D!ckheads live in nice suburbs as well.

So I have discovered living here.....

[jack]

We lived out in the country as kids on a small farm, absolutely loved it growing up. Then we had to catch the school bus to high school, that meant an early morning walk to the bus stop, trip into the 'city' and another walk to school. Same thing coming home, in mid winter it was nearly dark by the time we got home. After a couple of years my parents sold up and moved into town as it was to difficult with all the travel.
Eventually I bought some small acreage in the country and this meant driving the kids to/from school daily. All good till they started high school and they went through the school bus process. But they all participated in sports and extra school activities, the novelty of rural living soon wore off when you have to do three trips into town in one day to pickup/drop off kids. The fuel bill soon started to add up.
Just consider that your children will grow up and there won't be any public transport available. Great for adults and young kids, teenagers well that's a whole new issue.

[Avo]

by em guns and motorbikes,they never want to go to town then,well apart from karate,netball,staying at friends,afterschool activities,work after school....
fencings not to much drama to put up if you got the coin and time..i'm lucky and get paid to do it,but with the right tools and knowhow it easy....and what others have said about upkeep of paddocks..they all need care and grazing,fertilizer,we use cows for the mowing.
we live 13km from the town the kids go to school to but we have a bus that's comes past the front(check that out),if it's raining he oftens drops them at the house so they don't walk and get wet.

hope it all works out for you and ya family

[gubigfish]

What sort of water supplies the house?
Is power connected or are you running solar etc?
Are the fences in good order i.e no rotting fence posts if timber or rusted star pickets, is the fencing wire in good order, does it have an electric fences.
If you end up having livestock and one escapes and causes property/people damage you are held liable.
If you plan on livestock does the property have cattle/sheep yards, what condition are they in.
Are there any noxious weeds that require regular spraying
Condition of any sheds, do they need repair, is power connected etc
Potential fertilizer costs to maintain grass for animals
Do the paddocks have actual feed quality grass or is it all weeds

[AB]

Thanks guys. Well I can only assume the place is classed as rural, as the closest town is Kangaroo ground, if you call that a town, and thats a few k's away. Nothing may come of this, but I just need to be armed with as much knowledge as I can. As for the environmental overlays. I assume the local council will be able to fill me in with this.... I kinda wish we hadn't spotted this place as we haven't finished our place yet to sell. No much to go, the ensuite needs a reno, and a good garden dress up is all thats needed. Might have to pull my finger out a bit further....

it's not the bend of islands is it???

If it is then you are most likely under the most environmentally controlled zoning with no animals or pets allowed at all.

[dave97]

Good luck I'm envious the big plan is to get some land but I've got to finish this place get one more rental and probably flip a couple of houses before we get to look at doing the big move.

[mudnut]

Oh yeah. Go and meet your
potential neighbours. We
have had some excellent
neighbours on all sides
for the last 20 years.
One side is moving so I
hope we get some more
good ones, fingers crossed.
And get a bush bomb, as
that is the best way for the
kids to learn how to handle
a car! Set some rules though
as it can be dangerous!!

[taslucas]

A paddock with a car jump is a must have too!

[Cuppa]

A paddock with a car jump is a must have too!

Just the way to endear yourself to the neighbours!

[mudski]

Bend of Islands it is... Nothing may come of this inspection. The house might be shoit for all we know, but it has a dog house for me to live in which has its own kitchen and bedroom so when the missus and my girls all decide to do their monthly girly things at the same time and I have somewhere to escape for the week. Lol. Its in the area, ish, of where we would like to move toward too. I've been down this road a few times and sure I saw dogs on someones property on Skyline Rd. Will wait and see. If anything were to eventuate, IF, we have no intentions of having cows, horse or sheep etc etc anyhow. Just one big ass 10acre Supercross track on it with a 4wd track surrounding it. Lol

Hows the internet out your way AB? I heard its super fast.