Definitely agree on the upfront site assessment—it's money well spent. A few things I've learned over the years:
- Visit the property right after heavy rain if possible; standing water or soggy areas can tell you a lot.
- Check out neighboring properties—if they're built up higher or have drainage ditches, that's often a subtle clue.
- Local county records or planning offices sometimes have floodplain maps or soil reports available.
Wish I'd known this stuff earlier myself... hindsight's always clearer, huh?
"Visit the property right after heavy rain if possible; standing water or soggy areas can tell you a lot."
Couldn't agree more with this point. When we were scouting land, we visited a spot that looked perfect on paper—great price, nice views—but after a storm, half of it was practically underwater. Dodged a bullet there.
Another thing I'd add is to pay attention to vegetation. If you notice certain plants like cattails or reeds, that's usually a sign of consistently wet soil. Also, talking casually with neighbors can be surprisingly helpful. People who've lived nearby for years often know about seasonal flooding or drainage issues that aren't obvious at first glance.
Wish I'd thought to check county records earlier myself... would've saved us some headaches down the road.
Another thing I'd add is to pay attention to vegetation.
Great points about vegetation—I've definitely learned to spot cattails the hard way, haha. Another sneaky tip is checking out older fence posts or utility poles on the property. If you see water stains or rot at a certain height, that's a pretty clear indicator of regular flooding. Found that out myself after buying what I thought was a dry corner lot... ended up building higher and spending more than planned. Live and learn, right?
Good catch on the fence posts—I hadn't thought about that before. Have you noticed if certain types of wood or treatments hold up better against flooding? I've seen some older cedar posts that seem to handle moisture surprisingly well, but maybe that's just luck or good drainage nearby.
Also, speaking of vegetation, have you ever used tree species as indicators? I've found willows and cottonwoods are usually a dead giveaway for wet ground. Learned that after helping a friend clear land for a cabin—ended up ankle-deep in mud half the time. Definitely makes you appreciate dry ground when you finally find it, haha.
Anyway, sounds like you've got a good eye for detail now... sometimes those hard lessons pay off down the road.
Cedar's decent, but I've found treated pine posts hold up better long-term in wet areas—especially if you're budget-conscious. And honestly, willows can be misleading...seen them thriving near drainage ditches that dry out completely midsummer. Learned that one the hard way too, haha.
