Selling land can be a deceptively tricky task. It is just dirt; how hard can it be? Unoccupied land tends to stay on the market longer, and there are fewer buyers out there ready to invest the money and time in developing a lot. Sailing the requirements to develop land these days wants multiple specialists and professionals, making the process tricky. Therefore, you must do some work to find a buyer when selling land.

Here are some ideas to get your lot sold in less time and for more money.

Photograph the actual property

If you search for a vacant land, you’d be surprised at how many agents don’t take photos of the subject property. We are not even saying take professional images. Just capture pictures that are of value to prospective buyers. We recommend taking at least 15 e photos to describe the property.

Here are some suggestions on what to photograph:

• An area on the site that is level and a good potential building site. After all, people buy new land to build a house or other structure.
• Looking down the road, both ways to explain some context. There is no purpose for hiding the reality. The buyer will go to the site and see it in person, showing the neighborhood a bit and being forthcoming with information.
• Any present benefits on-site or nearby like a water meter, sewer connection, power line, gas connection, etc. The more nearby or on-site utilities that are existing, the more critical the plot will be.
• Any nearby fire hydrant is good to see as the local fire department may require one to be within a certain distance of a new home.
• Views from the property.
• Enduring trees that could become a starred landscape element in a site design.

Survey the property

The more promised customers know about the property upfront, the more immeasurable quality offers you will receive. Here are some basic topics land buyers may ask. A topographic survey is a 2D drawing of a property that shows accurately scaled site elements, such as slopes, property lines, trees, and utilities. Any buyer looking to build something on the lot you are looking to sell will need a survey, which adds value while clearly describing the thing you are selling. You can consider it as an open floor plan for your place.

Get a soils report

One of the essential unknowns when buying a piece of land is knowing what’s going on beneath the surface. A soils report done by a geotechnical engineer will analyze public data and test results to provide recommendations for foundation design. The technical engineer will produce a few inspection pits on your property – ideally in the area where a building may go – and dig till they hit bedrock or something that a foundation can bear on. Ideally, you won’t need to have deep foundations as a deeper foundation on poor soils combines a lot of value to a construction project. Getting a soil to report – or even a preliminary soils report – before listing a property will help clarify to the buyer what they are buying and add value. This is something that will be suitable needed.

Provide basic zoning information

This gets slightly complicated as you don’t want to give inaccurate information to misrepresent your business. However, you can register an appointment with a planner at your local planning department and ask for a significant zoning code analysis. 

Figure out sewer or septic

If you build a home, you have to figure out how to eliminate wastewater. It will either happen by connecting to a municipal sewer line or making a septic system. At the very least, you should know if the buyer can tap into a nearby build a septic system or sewer line. If a septic system is required, a perc test will be necessary to examine the soil’s water absorption rate for the leach field. Getting a perc test done would be due care to give the client and add value to your business. Any report or test you prepare for the site should add its price in your sale price, so you will get returned the cost when you close escrow.

Install a water meter

This one is expensive, but adds a lot of value, especially here in California. If your property needs a well, you could have a good company prepare a proposal to share with prospective buyers. If your property is near municipal water, you will need a water meter installed before completing your new building. It looks like more vacant lots do not have a water meter than those that do, so installing one will set you apart and add a lot of value.

Pay a higher percentage commission

This may seem self-serving on a real estate blog post composed by a real estate agent, but hear me out. You will find vacant lot listings sit on the market for more lasting than a house. That is because there are fewer customers actively looking for empty land. There is a lot more work vetting a blank piece of land, typically for less commission, than buying a home. Instead of the current typical commission of 5%, offer a skilled real estate agent/broker 6% or even 7% to help you find that qualified buyer. Agents tend to go after low hanging fruit (me included!), and buyers tend to lose steam when thinking about all involved with home sketching and building. If you give 3% or 3.5% to the client agent, that will incentivize agents to provide prospective buyers to your lot.

Selling land is a special skill

While there are many talented, hard-working agents out there, it’s harder to find one familiar with buying land nuances. Call Indigo developers and find one that is familiar with the process of buying and selling vacant land. If you want to know more of our property-related pieces and overviews of Pakistan’s latest real estate projects, keep following Indigo Developers, the country’s best property blog.