How To Buy A Farm: Exclusive Buyers’ Guide

How To Buy A Farm: Farmbuy.com Buyers’ Guide

Purchasing a farm can be rewarding, but if people do not have the skills and knowledge to look after their land and livestock properly, the dream can turn into a nightmare. Before you purchase a farm you should realistically and honestly assess your expectations and capabilities.

“The Rural Living Handbook”, produced by NSW government agency Local Land Services, provides a useful guide to purchasing a farm. It advises asking yourself the following questions before you buy.

How many stock do you need to carry in order to be viable and can the property support that?

How To Buy A Farm: Your Plans For The Property

• Are you buying the property more for lifestyle reasons? Or do you plan to improve the property and receive an income from it? If so, have you done a cost‑benefit analysis? For instance, how many stock do you need to carry in order to be viable and can the property support that?
• Will you be living on the property? If not, how often do you plan to be there? Have you thought about how quickly you could attend to situations that might arise?
• Is the activity you plan for the property suited to the landscape and capability of the land? Is there enough water of suitable quality to sustain the activity that you have in mind? Is the soil fertile and the pH appropriate for growing pasture, crops and any other produce that you want to grow?
• Are there any existing conservation agreements or covenants, vegetation management plans or conditions of consent over part/s of the property?
• Are there good quality pastures? Are they dominated by native or introduced species? Is there enough shade and water for stock?
• Do you know the history of the property? What stock did the previous owner have? Did they sow pastures and use fertilisers? Are there any contaminated sites on the property such as cattle dips or rubbish dumps needing remediation?
• Are there any structures on the property and if so, what condition are they in? Are the fences in good repair and suitable for confining stock if that is part of your plan?
• Are there pest animals (eg rabbits, foxes) on the property? Are there threatened species of flora and fauna on or near the property?
• Are there existing or proposed adjacent land uses that will affect your enjoyment of the property?
• Are all required services provided to the property (ie phone, gas, water, sewer, internet and electricity)? If not, can they be provided economically?
• Does the zoning of the land allow your proposed use, or will you need to apply for a change of land use or any other permit? If there is no existing dwelling and you want one, does the land have a dwelling entitlement?

Are there any contaminated sites on the property such as cattle dips or rubbish dumps needing remediation?

How To Buy A Farm: Property History

• Do you know the history of the property? Request a property search to ensure there are no outstanding rates, levies or restrictions due to chemical residues, plant or animal diseases on the property.
• What stock did the previous owner have?
• Did they sow pastures and use fertilisers?
• Are there any contaminated sites on the property such as cattle dips or rubbish dumps needing remediation?
• Have you requested a sheep and/or cattle health declaration from the vendor? This can tell you important information about livestock diseases that might affect the ongoing use of the land.
• Are there any derelict mine shafts on the property? If so, are they fenced to ensure your safety?

Are there pest animals (eg rabbits, foxes, kangaroos) on the property?

How To Buy A Farm: What Is On The Property And Nearby?

• Are there any structures on the property and if so, what condition are they in?
• Are there pest animals (eg rabbits, foxes) on the property?
• Are the fences in good repair and suitable for confining stock if that is part of your plan?
• Are there threatened species of flora and fauna on or near the property?
• Are all required services provided to the property? If not, can they be provided economically? Or is it an area that will always have limited services? Services include phone, gas, water, sewer, internet and electricity.
• Are there existing or proposed adjacent land uses that will affect your enjoyment of the property? For example, are there legitimate rural uses nearby such as agriculture, quarries, mines and forestry that produce dust, odours or noise?

Are the fences in good repair and suitable for confining stock if that is part of your plan?

How To Buy A Farm: Local Council Restrictions

• Are there any development applications current for the nearby area?
• Are there any restrictions on obtaining approval to build a house or other buildings on your block, or to develop certain desired land uses?
• Are there any other developments that have been approved but not commenced or were built without approval?
• Are there any any potential constraints from the local council?
• Is the land prone to flood or bushfire? Will you need to undertake any management activities to minimise these impacts? It may be more expensive to build and get insurance on flood or fire-prone land.
• Are there any rights-of-carriageway or other easements on the property which need to be maintained and/or which may allow neighbours access?
• Are there any covenants, management plans or agreements on the property that protect certain areas?
• Are there any outstanding weeds notices on the property?

Is the land prone to flood or bushfire? Will you need to undertake any management activities to minimise these impacts?

How To Buy A Farm: Land Zoning And Regulations

• Do you know what the land is zoned and what agency or local government is responsible for activities such as native vegetation management in that zoning?
• Does the zoning of the land allow your proposed use, or will you need to apply for a change of land use or any other permit?
• If there is no existing dwelling and you want one, does the land have a dwelling entitlement?

After considering all these questions, will the property provide the rural lifestyle that you are looking for?

To view more than 3,000 rural properties currently for sale on farmbuy.com click on the following links.

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