As a real estate agent, I am ethically bound to tell my clients about anything of which I am aware (or SHOULD be aware) that can affect their property value. Usually it is in written form and saved to my file, so they can not say “you never told me that”. But this one I can’t put in writing because of fear of prosecution.
A buyer or seller of vacant land should carefully inspect it for any signs of “endangered” wildlife, “protected” plant life and any thing that might indicate that it could be a wetland. The presence of any of these factors can render it unbuildable and of little or no value. But never hire an environmentalist to do it; they’ll rat you out to the authorities.
If it is appears to be a wetland, swampy, marshy, muddy without any recent rain, don’t buy it unless you first check to see if there is a perched water table (a shallow clay layer which prevents water from percolating through the subsoil- an in-the-ground mud puddle writ large). If the clay layer is relatively thin you can punch holes in it, fill them with gravel and allow the water to drain away and the ground to dry out. Reseed or plant with upland vegetation that does not do well in a wetland. If it is a true wetland, there is no cure; don’t buy it. Assuming it can be dried, move to the next step.
Relocate or otherwise remove (SSS?) any questionable animal or plant life. Let your conscience be your guide. There are a few truly endangered species that are actually of some value to the ecosystem; try to find them a new home. But there are so many other useless critters on that list... If your property is outed as having them in residence, you’re toast.
I can tell this to a client, but I can’t document it. Come to think of it, maybe posting this isn’t such a smart idea...hope we’re not being monitored by the ecowarriors!
Was that the doorbell?
WHAT?
You think those Gestapo SOBs don’t monitor everything we say here?
But I think your safe here, your just giving advice to any potential property buyer, your not TELLING any body to break the law, just telling us what to look out for in a purchase.
As they say “CAVEAT EMPTOR”.