Maintaining Acreage - What Are We In For?

[fionas]

DP and I are considering a treechange to Woodend and we're going to look at a house that's on 7 acres.

We really have no idea how much effort/time we would need to put into maintaining that. Most of it is cleared with not too much in the way of high maintenance manicured garden by the looks of things and there's a wooded bit at the edge.

DP likes the idea of a ride-on mower but we really have no clue about what we would be in for.

Can anyone shed some light?

[Inanna]

A lot! It's hard work & I only have 1 acre. Basically you have all the wonderful things that a rural lifestyle provides - & the cost is maintenance!

I know quite a number of people who have moved up to where I am & ended up moving back to town. Simply they didn't want to spend their spare time mowing, chopping, clearing and moving trees etc...

When I get a storm it's days of clean up - when a cow gets out it's fun.
We have always paid someone to mow and whipper snip - but really for me I can't maintain this place alone - the house takes up all my time I haven't got the time to be in my too large for one garden.

So, you need to be aware that its a big job. I know that it seemsmainenentce free - but it's just not that way!

so weigh up your need to be rural - perhaps look for a smaller block? Or, if you will resent in time the time it takes to maintain..

[Ginger]

would you be putting any animals on the 7 acres? eg. goats, sheep, horses?

[fionas]

Nope, we're not planning any animals except maybe a special breed of horse that can operate a lawnmower and chop down trees

[Ginger]

your maintenance will be pretty huge then...we have one acre of cleared, established garden and it takes dh 3 hours to mow the lawn and whippersnip. the amount of leaves you have to rake up is enormous. if you can afford it, you can always pay a garden maintenace company to come in once a month and keep it looking great- but this would be an extra cost you would need to factor into your move though.
is the block flat or on a slope?

[Astrid]

Yep maintenance is higher than a normal block. We have had to get some tree work done, then there is mowing and whipper snippering. Then it is a whole other ball game if you add animals to the mix. Finding myself tied to home at the moment as we have young chicks who need regular feeding and checking on with the changes in temps.

Also need to look into other things like is it on tank water, bore water and does it have a septic tank. They are all extra work. Gutters need to be kept clean for water collection and of course for fire safety. Tanks need a clean out every so often, along with the odd top up from a water tanker if there has not been decent rain for awhile. Septics need pumping every so often as well and you need to be a bit more careful of what goes down them and water flow etc. There are also pumps with tanks and bores. These use power, the newer variable speed ones a much cheaper to run. Pumps in general can have problems, so be prepared to pay for repairs or replacements depending on age. Our last bill was over $600.

What is the garbage collection like? Is there one, or do you have to pay for some one to collect it or take it to the tip yourself. That is also extra work. Not so much expense, as your rates should be less if there is no road side collection. The work is extra sorting of recylables, as they have to be sorted right down to type and of course the loading of a trailer.

Really recommend having a trailer with a larger property. That way you know you can take home big purchase, as not everyone will deliver to rural areas or if they do it is on their time and price. Also good for transporting small animals if it has sides.

Check into the capital gains implications on the block, as only the first 5 acres is exempt from CGT.