Common mistakes people make when buying a horse property

There are many things to consider when buying your own equestrian property. As simple as it may seem, you should pay attention to certain characteristics of the property listing in question. Namely, purchasing an adequate horse property is not the same as buying typical property. Consequently, people who are new or inexperienced when it comes to this kind of purchase may not be aware of this. For this reason, we will discuss several common mistakes people make when buying a horse property to help you through the process.

Purchasing too much or too little land

Before even checking out horse properties in your desired area, it is crucial you first determine how much land you need to establish your equestrian property. The key to figuring this out is not only determining what your current needs are but also considering what they might be in the next few decades.

As unrealistic as this may sound at first, you still need to develop a plan that deals with the issue. If you are certain you will expand at some point, you need to consider larger properties to accomplish this without any difficulties.

On the other hand, you have to plan this carefully – having too large of a property can be challenging to maintain in the long run. This can be especially tricky if you are considering installing special machinery and features to make your horse property sustainable, for instance. In such cases, you might be biting more than you can chew since you have to put the expenses of handling your staff, foodstuff for your horses, annual maintenance of tools and structures on your farm, etc., into this equation.

It is essential you think of a viable plan for the next ten years, for example, and buy your property accordingly. While the moving crew from Allstate Moving and Storage can make your relocation more manageable, you should still avoid having to find another property soon after purchasing the current one.

Overlooking zoning restrictions is one of the common mistakes people make when buying a horse property

Even if you find a property with the perfect surface area for your needs, you still want to avoid some pitfalls. For example, even if the given property was a horse farm with all the necessary structures, trails, and other essential elements, this does not guarantee that you are officially allowed to have your horses on the site.

It is best if you buy the property with the help of a certified agent with a lot of experience with buying and selling in the equestrian real estate market. In case you are already settled on a particular horse property, it is best if you check with the local council if the property has the proper permissions to house horses and how many horses you are allowed to have there. It would be a significant financial setback if your horse farm were the source of legal issues and penalties, so make sure you know what you are investing your money in.

Do not overlook changes in routine

Especially if you are buying your horse property for the first time, you should be prepared to adapt to many new things when you finally move to the location. Firstly, it is crucial you carefully plan the move itself. For instance, make sure you pay attention to packing and transferring tools and other equipment from the tool shed adequately. Carefully planning every step of the way will make adapting to your new routine and environment much more smooth and quick.

Also, although you may be thrilled that you can finally take care of your horses and your farm on your own, this may come with its own set of challenges. Balancing your work, family, and horse farm can become overwhelming in the first months until you figure out how to appropriately schedule your time or get the necessary assistance on the farm.

What might also present a change you will have to adapt to is the absence of other horse riders on the property. This means that you might spend a lot of time, either riding alone or with family and friends. One way to make your days more sociable is to take on boarders on your horse property. This way, you will have company, potentially a helping hand if one of your horses gets ill or injured, and an additional source of income if you decide to charge rent for the place in the stables.

Do not postpone stable inspections

Stable inspections are there for a reason – before you decide to buy a horse property, you should have a professional look at the stables to determine if there are any leaks, damages, electrical issues, or any other problems with structures on the property. Of course, getting a home inspection is probably higher on your list of priorities, but it is generally bad practice to postpone stable inspections or exclusively rely on your judgment.

Even if the stables seem as if they are in mint condition, there may be some aspects that you cannot quickly notice without a thorough inspection conducted by a home inspector who knows their way around a horse property.

All in all, we hope reading about these common mistakes people make when buying a horse property helped you get a clearer picture of what you need to pay attention to before you make the final decision. We wish you all the luck with finding your new equestrian property!