Water Availability
Check on this critical issue. Is water provided from a public system or from a well? Is the water safe to drink? Is it sufficient for your needs? If a well needs to be drilled, what will be the cost?
Waste Disposal
Is the property connected to a municipal sewer system? If not, does it have a septic tank or anothertype of system? Is the soil suitable for a septic field? How old is the septic system, how many years can it reasonably be expected to function before needing replacement, and how frequently does it need to be cleaned? Does the property have holding tanks that must be pumped? What about other types of waste disposal, such as garbage pickup and recycling—are these services available, or will you be required to make your own arrangements?
Land Boundary
Check to make sure that the boundaries of your property have been clearly marked and pegged by a qualified surveyor. This is especially important with acreage or waterfront property. You don’t want to have disputes with your neighbours.
Land Claims
Are there any current or potential First Nations land claims issues? Who owns the mineral rights, not just the surface rights to the land? See next section below. Who owns the surrounding treed areas? It could be Crown land or leased to a forestry company.
Under-Surface Rights
This would include rights to minerals, oil, or gas that may be in the ground. They could be owned by either the government or another private party that has previously staked a legal claim to them.
Access
Is the property accessible year-round or seasonally? Who owns the roads with access to the water? Is it municipally owned or private owned, and if the later, who maintains the road, and what would the annual cost be?
