Now that I'm a land owner, I've already started to realize the difference between living on a piece of property versus simply owning it. For example, I have no idea what's going on there unless I make the trip out. People could be dumping trash on the lot (currently they are not) and I really wouldn't know.
I've been trying to make an effort to ride out to the property once a week, but when I get there I question what I'm supposed to do. I look at it from all angles, maybe take another picture or two, dream a little on what the house will look like - then leave. It's not an easy climb, so clawing my way up the hill each time I visit doesn't really make sense either. With the survey work not happening until the end of the month - and the geology work not able to be finished until the survey is completed - I'm just in a holding pattern right now. However, one learning moment did come up - I've been judged non-compliant by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
My property is part of a fire hazard zone (isn't all of CA?), so certain rules need to be followed to help lower the risk. Some of this came up during the close of escrow, as the previous owner did disclose that there weren't any current violations on the property and no liens due to non-compliance (if you don't comply, the city will bring you into compliance and place a lien on your tax bill to cover the cost, plus any penalties). What wasn't disclosed was that the annual inspection was coming up. So a few days after closing, my land was inspected, and a notice of non-compliance was issued. Of course that went to the previous owner, and eventually it found its way to me. Out of all the things that could make the property non-compliant, my notice was relatively minor - my brush, grass and weeds are higher than the maximum of 3 inches. LAFD maintains a website to help explain all the requirements and even recommends contractors to do the work. I hired Brian Walsh Brush Clearance to get the property into compliance before the re-inspection this month (Brian also guarantees his work on the property to pass the LAFD inspection), and $675 later, I should be good for another year.