Can't You See It???
What do you mean you can't see anything there?... [I say with raised eyebrows]
Right there... [pointing] that's where the house is going to go. Over here... [pointing to the other side] this is where we're going to put the well. And the septic... it's right over there. The driveway will go up through here and around that side.
Oh, and here... [pointing, while looking completely enamored with all of Nature's beauty] right here is the only spot where you can actually see 2 of the 3 creeks at the same time!
Trust me, once you get inside the tree line, it makes more sense. It's a little bit cleared out in the middle there.
That's pretty much how the conversation with my mom went the other day when I drove her out to have a look at our property.
Her first look.
Unfortunately, from the road, she just couldn't see the forest for all the trees. (She wasn't prepared for a deep-woods hike... in the scorching hot sun... with no tick prevention.) So she's pretty much taking our word on it that the boo coo bucks we just shelled out to purchase this choice piece of land was actually a good move.
I have to admit, had I not walked deep into that forested property and seen for myself -- and had it explained to me firsthand from someone who clears and develops land for a living -- then I probably wouldn't have been able to "see" it either.
At this point (over a year later from when we first discovered this property) we have met, hashed, and re-hashed all of the minute details and intricacies of this property so much that we now know this 5-1/2 acre collection of trees, rocks, dirt and creeks like the back of our hand!
A sampling of the people we've discussed this land with:
- The guys who actually surveyed the land (twice, in addition to contemplating it a third time while taking into consideration some new ideas we had in mind)
- The original owner of the land
- The person who bought it after him (as an investment)
- Practically every administrator in the planning & development office which oversees the plotting and platting of all land within the county
- The guy from the electric company who placed the original poles on this mile-long private road
- Almost every single neighbor whose property surrounds ours
- And the developer who originally cleared the land and "saw" everything that made this piece of land so unique
The point of this article?
Simply to verify that it is a very difficult process to:a) find a piece of land; and
b) to be able to visualize where the house will go and everything will look when all is said and done.
My advice:
#1 Don't buy your land on an impulse. If at all possible, try to meet with as many people as possible who could offer advice and opinions. They will "see" things differently than you.
#2 From there... trust your instincts. Go with your gut, rather than "settling" or going with what might be the "easiest" option.
#3 And finally... Take your time!
Now I see why they say most people take a year or more to decide on the details -- things like property and house design.
A year ago, we were ready to go with the first log home design that we thought up. And we were ready to build it on land that didn't really "fit" us -- just because that's how the cards were falling. We were choosing immediate gratification rather than focusing on the big picture. It's as if we weren't truly seeing the forest for all the trees at that point in time.
We were so eager to start building the log home of our dreams that we almost "settled" for a nice log home in a nice area instead of waiting for an awesome log home in an awesome area. We've now come full circle and we're getting exactly what we've always wanted. Thanks to a little PATIENCE!
Terry -
Howdy neighbor! Thanks for the kind words and the vote of confidence. We can't wait to move out there.
We certainly feel very fortunate to have found such a good deal on a great piece of property. We were just in the right place at the right time. We know that we are very lucky to have found such a wonderful place in Williamson County to call "home".
Perhaps we'll meet in person some day. Thanks for stopping by our site.
I like your property and recognize where it is (I think). I know you will be pleased with the ecology of the area. We purchased 5+ acres about 9 years ago overlooking North Lick Creek Road near Leiper's Fork and are continually amazed at the diversity of flora and fauna. Our hilltop is covered with trout-lily, shooting star, jack in the pulpit and others that we discover each year. The creek at the foot of our property flows freely year round from numerous springs in the valley and we've found trillium and dutchman's breeches all along the stream. Great blue herons, green herons, kingfishers and turkeys are thriving. There are also beaver, fox and bobcats in the valley.
Good luck on building your house. I know you'll be happy in this beautiful section of Williamson County.
As a matter of fact, a (very small) pond is in my future plan for my backyard. You know...the kind with the recirculating pump, etc. We have a natural dry creek with a couple of gulleys in the back so it would look very natural with little waterfalls and all.
I keep missing the pond-building classes at Home Depot but I'll attend one once we are serious about putting a pond with mini-stream in.
You're right...I think a post is in order regarding pond building soon!
BTW...there won't be any fish in it. The birds will only see them as a meal in a pond so shallow.
I've got some friends that have a small homemade pond in their backyard and he was raising some koi in a tank to put in the pond. On the very day that he decided that the fish would enjoy their new home, he put the fish in the pond and went to work. He came home and the fish were all gone. Birds ate 'em.
Sorry for the tangent, Lynnette.
Randy,
I think I have a slight idea of what you're talking about... but I'd really have to see some examples I guess.
Maybe I'll find a write-up on YOUR site soon? :)
I'm wondering if what you're mentioning is what our neighbor (on the same road as our property) tried to do. Years ago, he dug out a big 'ol pond and I guess it was landscaped nicely at one time -- even with a nice little arched bridge & all. But now it's looking more like a retention pond. I'm thinking there must be a fair amount of work to maintaining such a pond...
Clear running streams are definitely a treasure to behold so I can't blame you for not wanting to alter the natural landscape. I was just thinking of all of the water fowl, frogs, turtles, etc. that a pond would attract/support not to mention a nice pond to stock with fish. And you'd still have a stream before and after the pond.
There are so many possibilities when you have a nice, big piece of land with hills, fields, forest and streams on it.
I'm thinking of more of a self-contained ecosystem rather than a waterhole.
Bet you couldn't tell I'm just a wee bit jealous, eh?!
Hmmmm... on first thought NO. I'm not fond of stagnant water (or all the things required to prevent it).
And if you could just see these streams... they're to die for! Nice waterfalls. Clear water. Rocky slate bottom. Always filled with water. Yet shallow enough for us and the dogs to walk through.
Plus, there are a few "open" areas of flat land in key areas near the water -- ideal for making a picnic area or placing a gazebo.
One of the creeks is a "blue line" creek. Which means it's "watched" by FEMA and cannot be touched (as if to dam it up). You have to keep all building materials something like 50 feet from blue line creeks -- on all sides. (More on that in tomorrow's post.)
Another reason a pond is not likely in our future... I don't see a pond being representative of the "natural beauty" that already abounds on the property.
In fact, the wide creek that runs behind our house has a tall mountainous wall of rocky cliffs on one side -- separating our property line from the guy who owns several hundred acres of field and forest behind us.
I think we're pretty lucky with the naturally flowing creeks as they are now.
Then again, the only "ponds" that come to mind are the lame algae-filled dirt holes that my dad dug in our backyard when I was a kid. (Big rocks strategically placed around the edges does not make a "waterhole" a "pond".) There must be something about men and backyard fish ponds... my brother's now got the bug!
That's a nice chunk of land there. You have 3 streams running through it so I was wondering if you've considered (temporarily) damming up one of the streams and putting in a nice pond?