Land is one of forms of wealth, one can be referred to as a rich man just by being in possession of enough chunks of land. It is therefore so wise to work targeting accumulation of land. You can decide to either buy land in town which in most cases is titled or well documented and so expensive. Others have found ease in village land but before running for an acre or two in the village, put into your mind these questions.
Village land is usually undocumented and untitled. For this reason it is relatively cheap compared to land within the proximity of the city. Before you buy land in the village you should carefully consider the following.
1. Why do you need the land? Is it for expansion, development, retirement home, etc.? Always begin with the end in mind. For instance if the land is for a farming project then you should consider the soil fertility, presence of a water source, proximity to road and workers, etc.
2. Accurate measurements. The village people have their own crazy way of measuring acreage which is not accurate at all. Get a surveyor to actually sketch out the proposed land and give you a clear estimate of the size of the land.
3. Be careful of graveyards. A lot of village land serves as family graveyards. Inspect the land and make sure you are not buying a graveyard!
4. Mark boundaries. Always mark the boundaries of your land using local plants or concrete mark stones. Be careful because some scrupulous neighbors usually move these boundary markers. If possible immediately fence off the land.
5. Negotiate like your life depends on it. Village people are smarter than you think. When they realize you are from the city they hike their prices. Do your research and offer something way below market value. If they are desperate they will eventually come down to a reasonable price.
6. Do due diligence. There is a lot of fake land for sale in the villages. Be careful. Talk to the neighbors and local council leaders to get the story of the land. Inspect the land before buying. If there are quarrels on the land someone is going to show up shouting!
7. Written agreement. Have a clear written agreement at hand. Village people make their own hand written agreements which may not stand up in court. Use a lawyer to review your agreement. On the day of signing the agreement ensure that the neighbors, local council leaders and other witnesses sign the agreement.
8. Take pictorial evidence. Take lots of pictures and videos on the day of signing the agreements. Take picture of the people signing and receiving the cash. This way they can’t deny if things go wrong.
9. Tip the witnesses. You have to spare some change to tip everyone who witnessed the transaction including the brokers, neighbors, local council leaders, etc. A little cash goes a long way to build good will in the community.
10. Process land titles. Immediately initiate the processing of a land title after acquiring the land. This simple act will almost increase the value of the land significantly.
There is a lot of opportunity in the countryside. You can acquire significant assets very cheaply! The labour is cheap and there is a ready market for your goods and services. Don’t stay hungry in the city, yet you can explore many opportunities in the villages.