Posted: 4/19/2012 12:23:11 PM EDT
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Location, East TN mountains rather remote. Travel up a gravel road to the gated entrance turn on a gravel road that goes along the ridge top to about 8 lots ranging from 5.5 to 85 acres. Mine is at the end of the ridge and the highest point and consists of 6.61 acres. If cleared enough there might be 2-3 acres of tillable land. Heavily wooded. A large creek is at the base of the mountain. The area is lots of ATV trails.
Area currenlty has lots of deer, turkey and some elk. Stragely there don't seem to be any squirrel. The county population is small with no large cities but is probably only an hour drive from Knoxville. I will be using this as a get away place and possible bug out location for now but may semi retire there in 12-15 years. Keeping budget minded what would you do and build on the land? What structures would you build? What would you do for security? Things like that. |
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My father in law bought some land about 1 hr south of Knoxville, with a mile of the river. My wife and I are now looking to purchase some land in the general area. I don't know too much about TN, but I do know that there is a lot of wood. We plan on building a timberframe (post and beam) barn house. Our plan is to do it in steps, like the following to pay for as much as possible over a 5-10 year span.
This is just an example of what we would do.... 1. Buy the land, finance if needed. 2. Determine house location on property, determine water situation, dig well if needed. Pay for well. (Maybe this is the first year) 3. Place septic and leech field on poperty, pay for this. (Maybe this is second year) 4. After determining a house plan, having blueprints in hand purchase timber, roofing, siding, windows and doors so that we can erect the structure and it will be water/weather tight. (maybe years 3-5) 5. Place the under concrete heating system in bottom floor of the barn house and have concrete poured.. (maybe year 6). 6. Frame 1-2 bedrooms and a bathroom, finish as much as possible. (could be lived in, or a weekend location at this point) Finish house following years. My plan isn't perfect, but we aren't planning on living there full time for at least 5 years. Although we do have a lot of saving for this project, we don't want to complete all at once, it will allow us a lot more flexibility and well thought out building this way. We could essentially bug out to the location once the property is water tight, as there will be woodburning heat in the structure when it is sided/roofed. I'm originally from PA, and have a very good network of wood supply and labor there (Amish), but don't have it in TN yet. |
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I'd get a 12x20 shed delivered and set on gravel. Insulate and hang some cheap paneling. Add a generator, wood burner, and an old RV fridge/stove and you have an instant cabin/BOL. Down the road if you build something more permanent, you already have a nice big shed or bunkhouse  Speed |
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If you're within an hour's drive from Knoxville. then you're too close.
Aside from that, there is the question of water availability, on-premises, and that is a deal-breaker. Can you drill in order to install an in-house pump to access water reliably? If not, then re-think as a BOL. |
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Quoted:
Build a "workshop" such as a 20x30 metal building with a bathroom and kitchenette. When/if you build a real house, think about accessibility as you age. Key word: METAL BUILDING!!!! I have no idea why anyone would want a frame/log/wood structure except for esthetics and romantic notions. For practicality, go metal, a well designed insulated one is wonderful. And they DON'T BURN! [usually] |
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I have often thought about starting over like this. Probably won't live long enough, but if I did...
Select land a well can be drilled on. Get that done and a workable septic system. Get that done, then if you can sneak it, or they don't care, pour a large slab with the wellhead in the corner, and build a large size metal building with at least one roll up door. Well is now inside, secure, no worries of tampering or theft. If you have to leave the well outside, only the pump and control box show, pipe the water to the pressure tank in the building. Build a plumbing/electrical closet, and adjacent to it the generator room, with appropriate venting, etc. Purchase modest RV, back into building. Close door. Vent appliances as necessary, and plug in to genny, water, and septic, and you have a liveable starting point with a fire-resistant structure,and your bug-out living quarters to live in while doing other stuff. Just an idea. |
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I'll give you another perspective. I'm coming at this more from the "retirement" angle than the "SHTF" angle.
For what is worth the Province of Ontario used to povide grants to senior homeowners. The Province realized that keeping a senior at home is often waaaayyy cheaper than stickin them in a nursing home. Dad (once a Chief Building Official for a moderate sized city) used to help seniors write grants, and $30-50K was not unusual for the modifications necessary t keep at senior at home. Where am I going with this? Well Father in law had parkinsons. MIL had Alzhimers. Yah. Pretty tough package. Anyways, some time before things got rough He asked me to help with a home. Modifying an existing home typically costs tens of thousands. Start ripping out walls, widening doors for wheel chairs, building additions so the bedroom is on the first floor, etc and, well, its $40-50 K easily. So we looked at a new home. We carefully picked a plan that was bascially senior/wheelchair friendly. Large bathrooms, no stairs, everyting on the first floor. I cannot remember the exact quoted price, but sat down and spec'd an entire set of adaptions that would make the home more 'senior friendly". Things like 36: doors instead of 32"'s. lever typedoor knobs instead of roun knobs. Delta unilever type faucets instead of round knobs. Decora type lighted rocker switches for all electrical switches instead of the traditonal. All outlets24" from floor and all switches somewhat lower too. A few more three way switches for better lighting in dark rooms. you get the idea. Overall the price increase was about 6% much MUCH less than a later refit. It costs a couple extra dollars to buy a 36" door right up front. Its Really expensive to buy a 32", tear it out, widen theopening, buy a 36" install and refinish everything. You might want to look at a concept called Univeral Design. The concept is this: Make the building suitable for all users, including those with mobility or vision imparments, from the start instead of trying half-assed expensive retrofits later. A few minutes of careful homework with yur design and spec sheet can save thousands later. You may find that retirement homes need good access inside. Good defensve planning means choke points and limted access. These concepts are at odds. I would betrying to harden the exterior as much as possible for security, while keeping the interior as 'accessible" as possible for easy living, Fro |
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One aspect that I've been looking at for my retirement, BOL cabin is heating and hot water. Off the grid, if we choose or are forced to.
A wood stove, with a hot water heating element, a hand pump to a higher reserve tank, gravity fed through the stove would be the ticket I think. Something to research more into. Considering an outdoor as well for "warmer" weather where I wouldn't want a blazing winter fire in the kitchen cook stove, but I still wouldn't want a cold shower from the reserve tank. |
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I have thoughts about this building something that will not be lived in for a long while – thiefs – thiefs – thiefs – unless the only way you can get to your property is by helicopter your stuff will be stolen.
Someone already mentioned it - pour the pad – dig the septic and leach field – drill the well but do not put the pump on it then cover it with either a locking iron cover or cement over it until you move onto the property – your building will be trashed and anything that can be stolen will be stolen – want to know how I know this - just ask. |
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The OP's question is rather involved but first you need water for any site you will live on. Electricity would be nice and is most always available with a price. Not so with water! Banks are not likely to finance bare land and insurance may be difficult or expensive to obtain on a remote location. Who maintains the road and is there snow? Is in an older properly built road that has been in use for years or just something a seller blazed to the "lots"?
Is there a fire district and how does EMS operate in the county? What medical service are available nearby? I would spend as much time as possible in the area or on the site to know the area and the locals. Rural areas have their quirks and remember we choose our friends but God chooses our neighbors. And I would strongly recommend the book "Finding and buying your place in the country" by Les Schuer. He covers all the bases for buying rural property. Good Luck! I made the move 20 years ago to BFE and it did not come easy or quick. |
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Aside from locked gates, all around the edges/ most likely entrance points, I would plant nasty thorn bushes and similar things to discourage hunters, hikers, curious trespassers from getting nosey and exploringwhat you may have on your property.
Out of sight, out of mind. I have remote property and try to keep things low profile. |