The dream of living in the countryside is never far from reality if you’re located in Canada. There are many provinces you can choose from if you want to enjoy the life of spacious distances between homes to breathe the fresh air. However, setting up a house close to the middle of nowhere needs plenty of preparation. If you think you’re ready to live a life on an acreage, read on to know what you should expect.
Living on an acreage is an appealing dream for many Canadians, especially those who want to live away from the city. However, preparing a patch of land to be a humane residence requires a lot of work. It’s a costly endeavor that needs thorough planning and consideration.
In this article, we’ll share three important things you need to consider before living on an acreage.
Residential properties close to the city don’t need to pay too much attention to their water needs. Simply turning on the tap brings you the water you need when you’re in the city. Unfortunately, living in the country will require a few more steps than that. You’ll need to determine if you will want a well or cistern for your water delivery system. Additionally, there are variations whether you want a drilled or bored well.
Each of the two options has its ups and downs, primarily regarding its recovery rate. However, both systems will need pumps and pressure tanks, which both rely on electricity to run. Wells can give you free, untreated water containing the natural minerals of its surroundings. Drilling a wall on uncultured land can allow oxygen to enter the area. This can lead to bacterial growth, potentially contaminating your water source.
Cisterns also have their fair share of issues. Since they’re large containment tanks delivered by a trickle system, the water is generally treated, and its safety to drink isn’t a problem. However, there could still be contamination in the spring from bacterial overgrowth. This is why it’s necessary to clean cisterns at least once a year.
Besides your central plumbing, you also need to erect a septic tank. Since acreages don’t have the benefit of a convenient sewage treatment system, you’ll need to consider how your waste will be stored and treated. For acreages near the Edmonton area, it’s more common to have holding tanks and open discharge sewage plants. You’ll need to analyze soil samples to determine the best system to fit your chosen land.
Most people who move to acreages do so for the benefit of raising animals. This can range from your standard cats and dogs to farm animals like horses and pigs. Keep in mind that different subdivisions and counties have limits on the number of large animals you can hold per acre of residential property. It’s essential to consider this while plotting the fencing area of your property.
Besides the logistical issues above, there’s also the problem of dealing with the tax of buying land in the country. While building a home in the city is already challenging, it’s even more complicated to do it on an acreage. This is why it’s vital to request a particular type of construction service to prep your land for all your necessary living utilities.
The journey of living next to the great outdoors will require massive planning and preparation with the help of proper building experts. At DL Nagel Excavating Ltd., we offer acreage development in southeast Alberta to get you a step closer to your dream of living near the countryside. Contact us today!