Everything You Need to Know for Your Property Visit

Visiting a property before purchase is an essential step in the land-buying process. But since most of our land is ‌in rural areas and often off the grid, there are some tips we like to share with all our potential customers. When cell service isn’t always guaranteed and the nearest home or business could be many miles away, it’s good to come prepared for your property visit. 

Of course, not all of our properties are located so far away from services. We offer a broad range of options you can use to narrow down your search on our property map. That said, the most affordable properties are ‌located away from dense population centers, making them ideal for price-conscious customers and those who want a place of their own away from the hustle and bustle of city life. 

So, let’s get down to it so you can leave for your land visit prepared and with the right mindset for some fun exploring!

Using GPS Coordinates on Google Maps

Since, by definition, a plot of raw land doesn’t have anything on it, it may not yet have an address assigned to it. Luckily, we provide GPS coordinates for our properties, making it easy for you to visit. But first, it’s important that you know how to use these coordinates in Google Maps. 

Luckily, this is easy whether you have an Android or iPhone operating system. The fastest way is to copy and paste the GPS coordinates from the land listing on Land Elevated. Once you paste the coordinates into the Google Maps search bar and perform the search, you’ll then be able to get directions from your location or whatever address you choose. Or you can swipe up from the bottom of the map to bring up more options.

Of course, you can also enter the coordinates if copying and pasting isn’t an option.

But don’t start driving yet! There are some other things you’ll want to do before starting off to see the land.      

Using Google Maps Offline

Many people don’t realize that Google Maps can still work offline. This is because both iPhone and Android phones have GPS functions that work without being connected to a cell tower or the internet. 

But it does take a little bit of preparation to make sure you’re all set for offline navigation. Here’s how.

Tip: Downloading a map onto your device takes up a good chunk of storage, depending on the size of the map. Make sure you have enough storage space, and that you’re connected to the internet, so it doesn’t eat up your data!

When you enter a start address into your Google Maps app, you should have a notification pop up on the map that gives you the option to download your route in case of spotty connections. Simply pressing the little download arrow will put the offline map on your device. You can then use Google Maps as normal, and it will automatically use the offline map if your device loses its signal. 

You can also download a map of a wide area around your destination. Here’s how to do that on iPhone and Android. 

Downloading a Map on iPhone and Android

Put the GPS coordinates into your Google Maps app. It should pull up a map with a pin for the location of the coordinates. 

At the bottom of the map, tap on the coordinates. This should pull the coordinates to the top of your screen, revealing three dots at the top right corner.

Tap on the three dots and select “Download offline map.” 

Use your fingers to pull out or zoom in as much as you need to until your starting address is included in the scope of the map. The more area you include in the map, the more space it will occupy once downloaded. 

Once you’re satisfied, select “Download.” 

Note: Depending on the age of your operating system, these directions may vary slightly from what you see on your screen. 

Google Isn’t Always Right

Before we move on to other tips for your property visit, it’s worth mentioning that Google Maps isn’t always right — especially in rural areas. Sometimes it will show a road where there is none. Other times, there may be a road where Google doesn’t show one.

This is something to keep in mind and plan for. A bit of extra time allotted for a little exploring is always a good idea. That’s why we suggest people give themselves plenty of time and come prepared for an adventure! Luckily, a little common sense paired with a bit of preparation goes a long way. 

We suggest saving Google Earth screenshots of the area onto your phone. While these images may not be up to date with the latest roads, they ‌show more detail and terrain than the standard Google Maps app does!   

Preparing for Your Trip

Whether the land you’re interested in is a fifteen-minute drive or a four-hour drive, it’s good to have some essentials in the car. And if the property is ‌in a rural area, it’s best to think like the Boy Scouts do and “Be Prepared.” 

Here are just a few items that will help you if you get a flat or have a breakdown while on your property visit!

• A (Full) Spare Tire
• A Tire Changing Kit – Jack, Lug Wrench, Gloves
• Tool Kit
• Flashlight
• 2 Gallons of Water
• Jumper Cables
• Tire Pressure Gauge
• First Aid Kit
• Phone Charger

There are also some other items you might want to bring, depending on how long you expect your excursion will take (always allowing time for “stuff happens”). 

• Non-Perishable Snacks
• Warm Clothing (For Cold Weather Travel)
• Umbrella
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Wet Wipes and/or Hand Sanitizer

Of course, if you’re going to be traveling several hundred miles, you’ll probably want to pack more than the items listed above. Maybe a change of clothing or two, and a cooler full of road trip snacks and drinks. It all depends on your comfort level and how far you’re going. 

It’s also important to alert someone as to your ultimate destination. Someone that’s not going with you, that is. You can always send them the coordinates directly or drop a pin on a map and send them the link!

Treat it Like an Adventure

When visiting a property you may want to purchase, it’s important to get to it with plenty of daylight left. The larger the property, the more time you’ll want to have for exploring. 

This is why we suggest making a day trip out of it, even if it’s not that far away. Make it an adventure, perhaps even bringing a picnic lunch and appropriate clothes/shoes to do some hiking! 

Many of our properties are located near scenic public areas, which is part of their appeal. So if you’re someone who likes hiking, hanging out at the lake, or fishing, you could even explore the property and then head to a nearby wilderness area to have some fun. 

Even hiking around the land is fun, because this is where your imagination gets to work. You can picture camping, building a cabin or a home, parking your RV, or just enjoying the great outdoors on a place all your own.

Mind the Neighbors

While exploring the property, it’s important to remain mindful that the surrounding properties likely belong to other people. And while they may not have anything built on them, it’s always good to treat the land like you would a wilderness area: pack it in, pack it out. 

Oftentimes, there aren’t fences or other obvious markers denoting the end of one property and the beginning of another. If this is the case, use your best judgment and don’t wander too far outside of what you think is the property. 

And don’t go too far into the woods without remaining aware of where you are and how to get back to your car!

Conclusion

We suggest every potential buyer heads out to their property before deciding on it. And our dedicated Land Specialists will help you do just that if you locate a property that you want to check out. We try to provide the most detailed listings and pictures possible, but there’s nothing like heading out and seeing the property for yourself before moving on with the land purchasing process. And since we own all the land we sell, you don’t have to worry about wandering around on someone else’s land. We’ll happily give you permission and assist you in your visit in any way we can!

So if you have any questions about a particular piece of land on our website, or you’re simply ready to plan your visit, contact us today. We’re here to help you!