Availability of Utilities in
the country is a major concern:
Sewer Service is non-existent
in the country. Residents rely on septic systems that are installed underground. This is a
very important issue and you should research the subject fully before deciding on a
particular system. Some counties require all septic systems conform to certain health
requirements, and that these be inspected before they are completed. This is one item that
really needs to be done by a professional.
Another issue is your source for drinkable water. Is there a
Community Water System available? Most people think water is
available nationwide now but that is not the case. In some rural areas, community water
companies may not have memberships available due to their current loads. If your area does
not have community water available then you will need to dig/drill a well. Be sure you
check with the local residents to find out how deep you will have to go and what the
quality of the water is in the area.
PLEASE DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS ISSUE – OUR WATER (AND
IT IS FROM A COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLIER) IS REALLY NOT DRINKABLE. THE STATE HAS CERTIFIED IT
AS SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION – BUT, IT SPOILS THE TASTE OF COFFEE, TEA, AND JUST A
PLAIN GLASS OF COLD WATER FOR DRINKING. WE BUY BOTTLED WATER AND ONLY USE OUR TAP WATER
FOR COOKING WHERE THE TASTE DOES NOT AFFECT THE FOOD.
The next issue is "electricity".
Rural electricity is available in all areas of the country but, it may not be available on
the property you select. This could increase your cost if the local electric company
requires you to pay for extending their power lines onto your land. Check with the service
office to determine the company’s requirements. Our electric supplier is a local
Co-op and they will send a field engineer out to the property in question and give an
estimate as to the amount of effort involved and the cost. This is also a MAJOR item to be considered. We are very happy with our company but
we were just lucky as the power lines were already on our neighbors property when we
purchased our land and he graciously granted the electric company a right of way through
his land to run power to our property.
OKAY! We now have water, electricity, and
sewer ---- what did we forget?
Ahhhh,….yes! Telephone
service – definitely a necessity in todays world. How else can you connect to
the internet if you don’t have it?
You’re thinking "but telephone
service is available everywhere – right!" Well, not exactly.
Let me tell you about my daughter and
son-in-law’s experience.
They purchased property on a close in county road and hired
a contractor to build their home. They contacted the local phone company to set up their
account and get a temporary phone installed in the small cabin they were living in until
the home was completed.
Sounds simple enough doesn’t it.
How were they to know that there was a minimum of a six
month wait for phone service?
How were they to know that even then, the service would
be so poor that connection to the internet was impossible?
How could they possibly know that they would be without
service anytime it rained?
Their problem has since been solved but in the meantime it
created unnecessary stress for the family. The company claimed that the area had built up
so fast with new homes that they were unable to add new connections without upgrading
their current lines, which they had no intention of doing for at least 6 months. Their
suggestion was for my Son-In-Law to rely on cellular service. Guess where the
"dead" spot is in that area? You got it, right where they were building. Due to
my daughter’s condition at the time (she is a Quadriplegic and was pregnant) my
Son-In-Law had a little more leverage against the phone company than some of the other
neighbors.
All right!! We now have all of the utilities. Let’s
move right along to the next phase, Designing Your
Dream Home!
