Looking at building a homestead

gdhillon

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2013
Messages
1,524
Reaction score
1,076
Location
Prince George
I’m looking at building a new house.

Two lots I’m looking at are very different, ones in a new subdivision in the city (city connections etc) the other is regional districts (requires a well etc) and an acreage with no neighbours close

I have a working list of pros and cons to both. I’ve never really lived anywhere with a well and septic/lagoon (with exception of a trailer park in sechelt for work). What is the collectives opinion on city connections as opposed to well and my own septic, garbage disposal etc? I am fairly certain there’s a number of y’all that live outside of the city. Wondering if I can hear pros and cons to the two that y’all have encountered

Things that have come back so far in my research are the cost of installing a well and regularly checking/testing. And maint on a septic field

Also, I will be the GC on the project, I do have family in Van that develops which is an invaluable resource but all their projects have city connections down there

Thanks in advance!
 

lilduke

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
19,134
Reaction score
67,986
Location
Local
CIty is close to amedities and women.

Country is a nice quite place to raise a family. But you might need to drive for 20 mins to get a coffee.

As a single guy, no way i want to live out in the sticks.

But Im lucky enough to have a city place and a family farm to store chit and go piss around with guns and 4x4s. Ext

Its nice to have both i guess.
 

The big greasy

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2020
Messages
4,070
Reaction score
13,138
Location
Red deer
CIty is close to amedities and women.

Country is a nice quite place to raise a family. But you might need to drive for 20 mins to get a coffee.

As a single guy, no way i want to live out in the sticks.

But Im lucky enough to have a city place and a family farm to store chit and go piss around with guns and 4x4s. Ext

Its nice to have both i guess.

Bush chicks are eager to please lol. Not much competition in the sticks lol.
 

Chump

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
2,117
Reaction score
8,352
Location
calgary
Hopefully getting on an acreage this spring. Currently working on plans and getting ready to list! Hopefully the right lot comes along
 

Cableguy

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2014
Messages
2,095
Reaction score
4,991
Location
Okanagan
in pg most the septic systems are lagoons so i don't think as costly as fields and pipe
My nephew has a cst company there if you need any help NPC
 

lilduke

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
19,134
Reaction score
67,986
Location
Local
Did a septic field a few years ago. Was 27g and needed to be rapaired 1 year later due to a broken pipe, and buddy wouldnt warrantry it.
 

pano-dude

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
4,729
Reaction score
15,542
Location
invermere
Did a septic field a few years ago. Was 27g and needed to be rapaired 1 year later due to a broken pipe, and buddy wouldnt warrantry it.
That's sucks, I thought septic guys are supposed to warranty for life of the system. That's why the big cost. Otherwise doing a system is pretty simple, not alot of materials other than a tank and perforated pipe, sand gravel.
 

lilduke

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
19,134
Reaction score
67,986
Location
Local
That's sucks, I thought septic guys are supposed to warranty for life of the system. That's why the big cost. Otherwise doing a system is pretty simple, not alot of materials other than a tank and perforated pipe, sand gravel.


Ya.not this guy lol. Not a lot of options in our area though. Yep not too complicated to build, but It needed to be inspected the first time. Buddy did the inspection himself.


Dad bought a mini hoe and fixed it.
 
Last edited:

lilduke

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2009
Messages
19,134
Reaction score
67,986
Location
Local
Thats rural alberta prices too. Vancouver area, holy fuk look out.
 

pano-dude

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
4,729
Reaction score
15,542
Location
invermere
A well can cost big money depending on the area, around me most are 4-500ft. Cost is around $100/ ft to set up.
I did a new cystern, pump in well, variable speed pump in tank on an existing well and it was $15k.
I wouldn't move back into town. Enjoy having space for all my junk and no neighbors to listen to.
My septic system plugged up one year, found the splitter box and it was full of solids. Cleaned it out and it's been fine.
Less taxes than in town
Definitely more work than a town lot.
Depending on location a snowplow will be needed and sand pile or finding a reliable contractor.
Having fresh eggs, home grow meat and veggies is worth the extra labour to me.
 

pano-dude

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
4,729
Reaction score
15,542
Location
invermere
Ya.not this guy lol. Not a lot of options in our area though. Yep not too complicated to build, but It needed to be inpected the first time. Buddy did the inspection himself.


Dad bought a mini hoe and fixed it himself.
If he is certified I'd be calling the governing association.
 

Lunch_Box

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
1,493
Reaction score
6,039
Location
Leduc County
If it was me I would be going further out. Im about 10 minutes outside of Edmonton right now, 5 minutes to Beaumont and I wish I had more land and further away. We have a spetic system and in the 5 years only issue we had was the line from holding tank to treatment tank freezing last winter. Company came and did a temporary fix in the winter and then sorted it in the spring. But we haven't had to touch our system at all. Cant comment on the well as we truck water in. Garbage disposal is pretty simple our way; you can either hire a private company to come get your trash or tank it to the county transfer station. I do the latter, every 2 weeks just do a quick dump run.
 

arff

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2009
Messages
141,809
Reaction score
56,059
Location
Leduc
We have both currently, live in the City and have a farm with house. It has a well and septic system. Its agricutural land

Depending on how many acres some Counties allow pump outs and septic fields.

Some areas dont allow drilled wells or septic systems.

Check the area your intested in to find the rules.

Are you thinking rural residential or acricutural land.
 
Top Bottom