By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, CIR Realty, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary
Week 9 of 10
The first evening on gravel is different. The sky feels bigger, the stars come sooner, and the quiet lands like a blanket. New buyers love that—then the surprises begin: “Where does the school bus stop? Who ploughs this road? How fast is the internet on a stormy night?” The more we answer up front, the stronger your offers—and the steadier they stay through conditions.
There’s always been an “acreage school.” A generation ago, it was neighbours at the fenceline; today it’s clear, simple information packaged with your listing. Same goal: remove surprises.
Seller priorities (to protect price):
1) Pricing through clarity. Fewer unknowns = less risk = better offers. We spell out water/septic, access, and services so buyers and lenders don’t guess.
2) Educate buyers early. In plain language, we explain trash/mail (transfer site vs. pickup), snow (county vs. private), deliveries (courier realities), internet choices (Starlink/LTE), and zoning and land use bylaws (what’s allowed where).
3) Paperwork ready at launch. A one-page “How the property works” sheet sits beside your well/septic/RPR bundle, so answers arrive while interest is highest—not three emails later.
What buyers want to know before they offer:
A snow removal plan (who ploughs, where the drifts come form).
Bus routes and nearest stops; courier/delivery notes (which carriers reach you).
Real speed tests for LTE or Starlink by the house and shop.
A realistic maintenance cadence (filters, UV lamps, pump-outs, mowing, driveways).
What schools do the kids goto.
Where is the mail pickup.
What about Garbage (pickup vs transfer stations)
Myth: “Acreages are maintenance-free.”
Reality: They’re wonderfully liveable—but they work best with a simple rhythm. When buyers see that rhythm, they lean in, not out.
Thinking of selling? Book a low-pressure Seller Prep Call and lets disscuss a City-Buyer Orientation Sheet, plus a plan to package your acreage so conditions come off cleanly
Hashtags:
#AlbertaAcreages #FoothillsRealEstate #Acreage101 #CochraneAB #WaterValley #Sundre #AcreageLife
Rory Hale, CIR Realty | 403-585-6552 | rhale@cirrealty.ca | roryhale.com
