Questions for Town Office (Waldoboro, Owls Head: renting, home, buyer)

[221B]

As we narrow down towns to purchase our home in, we plan on visiting the Town Office with a list of questions regarding the town, it's planning & public works structure, and hopefully the specific property itself.
I'd like some help in developing this "list", and would appreciate input on what questions to ask.
Initially, the items I've got so far:

• Property Taxes/mil rates, and history of % of increases
• Any zoning or land-use restrictions
• Seasonal issues that we may not encounter over the year, such as traffic patterns, special events
• Any planned zoning changes
• Garbage disposal
• Any water Issues, including flooding and general well-water quality

Can anyone suggest other items to inquire about that you may have run into? Thanks.

[LordSquidworth]

I'd check out their voting history for the past few years. Some areas give the schools/towns everything they ask for all the time.

[WhoFanMe]

Good idea to visit the town office with your Buyer Agent once under contract during your Investigation Review period and review the file to see if the necessary permits have been pulled by the previous owner(s) for improvements as well as compare the data in MLS with what is on file with the town. If any permits are missing, you can request that the current owner pull them and pay any penalties so that you don't have to when it's your time to sell.

[Eric-M]

Depending on how rural you're going to be, you might want to inquire about road maintenance and see if your street will be plowed in the winter.

[221B]

Originally Posted by WhoFanMe

Good idea to visit the town office with your Buyer Agent once under contract during your Investigation Review period and review the file to see if the necessary permits have been pulled by the previous owner(s) for improvements as well as compare the data in MLS with what is on file with the town. If any permits are missing, you can request that the current owner pull them and pay any penalties so that you don't have to when it's your time to sell.

Great idea about checking on permits… Thanks! I can see where that has the possibility to become an expensive oversight later on down the road.

[221B]

Originally Posted by LordSquidworth

I'd check out their voting history for the past few years. Some areas give the schools/towns everything they ask for all the time.

Originally Posted by Eric-M

Depending on how rural you're going to be, you might want to inquire about road maintenance and see if your street will be plowed in the winter.

I'll add these to our "list", thank you!

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by 221B

Great idea about checking on permits… Thanks! I can see where that has the possibility to become an expensive oversight later on down the road.

Thank you. A smart buyer agent will make sure his/her buyer isn't hit with this when it's their time to sell down the road.

[maureenb]

Good morning, 221B's...

I love to hear the wheels turning! I don't have much of anything to offer regarding specific questions, but did want to mention that many, not all, Towns have at least a little something posted online, as you likely know, but just in case...for example Owls Head Town Of
WaldoboroMaine.org

I'm not really sure how the ladies at the OH Town office would respond to questions such as those you're asking. They might be willing/able to opine on some things. Larger Towns might have more personnel, and be more able or agreeable to answer queries.

Happy hunting...

[Newdaawn]

You might consider "renting" in the area you plan to buy land in and see if it really is where you want to be. Also if you are very rural you will have to drill an artesian well for water supple and have septic system installed.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

As you travel round a town there are no signs to tell you when you leave one zone and enter another zone. You need to look at the actual zoning map. Your rights change when you cross that boundary. Many people are completely unaware that they lose rights when they cross one of those invisible lines. Some towns have dozens of different zones and people paid to watch what you do.

Other towns have no zoning. Those towns have no such problems and their citizens are happier.