Comprehensive Land Purchase and Sale Checklist

What a good one includes

• A dedicated section for municipal zoning verification, detail-checking permitted land uses, setback requirements, and building height restrictions.
• Detailed steps to confirm legal road access and verify the availability, capacity, and connection costs for electricity, water, sewer, and high-speed internet.
• Guidance on scheduling crucial physical tests, including perc tests for septic suitability, environmental site assessments, and soil stability evaluations.
• A protocol for reviewing title commitments, specifically flags for existing easements, deed restrictions, covenants, and encroachments.
• Clear instructions on ordering and interpreting boundary surveys to confirm the exact acreage and physical property lines match the legal description.
• A structured timeline of contingencies that must be satisfied before earnest money becomes non-refundable, leading into a final closing checklist.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a property has guaranteed road access without verifying whether that access is legally deeded or merely an informal historical path.
• Neglecting to perform a percolation test before purchasing unsewered land, resulting in a lot that cannot legally support a septic system.
• Failing to check for active Homeowners Association rules or deed restrictions that can override local zoning laws and limit construction plans.
• Waiving the survey contingency early only to discover later that a neighbor's fence or structure encroaches onto the property lines.

Frequently asked questions