HOW TO READ A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP

Posted on by Meghna Negi in Land

Natural Resources Canada describes a topographic map as depicting, in detail, ground relief (landforms and terrain), drainage (lakes and rivers), forest cover, administrative areas, populated areas, transportation routes and facilities (including roads and railways), and other man-made features. 

The Government of BC website has a link to the Base Map Online Store where anyone can download a topographic map, for free, for any area of BC.

But what do you need to know to understand what the map means? When looking at a topographic map, you will see the following standard features (among others):

CONTOUR LINES

Contour lines connect points with the same elevation. If the lines are closer together, the steeper the slope and the greater the change in elevation. If the lines are farther apart, this shows a gentle slope and a slow elevation change. 

Contour lines indicate the shape of the terrain with rough circles likely showing a peak. Circles with tick marks generally show a depression rather than a peak.

Every fifth contour line appears to be a heavier line – called an Index Line. These lines generally identify the exact elevation of that line. 

Interval lines (usually marked on the legend or map index), show how many vertical feet are between lines. If the interval map shows 40, this means that each line is 40 vertical feet higher or lower than the line above or below it.

MAP SCALES

These tell you how detailed the map is. For example:

If the scale is 1:20,000 then each inch on the map is equivalent to 20,000 inches of real terrain. The level of detail is greater than if the scale were 1:50,000 as it covers a smaller land area.

A representative scale is a ruler noted on every map which gives an idea of how many miles or kilometres one map inch covers.

COLOR CODING

Topographic maps use a standard colour-coding system to identify different aspects or features:

Black – identifies cultural features such as buildings, railways or power lines.

Blue – identifies water features such as lakes, rivers, waterfalls, swamps or marshes.

Green – identifies vegetation, orchards, wooded areas or locations such as vineyards.

Red – identifies roads, highways, major transportation routes and even interchange exit numbers.

LEGENDS AND ORIENTATION

The map legend explains what each of the lines, symbols and other map characteristics are.

Generally, topographic maps are oriented to true north, while compasses are oriented to magnetic north. Because these are not usually aligned perfectly, you may need to figure out the difference between the two so you can adjust your bearings accordingly. 

Declination is the angle of deviation between the two points and is constantly changing because the earth’s magnetic field is also constantly changing. The difference between true north and magnetic north also varies depending on where you are on earth.

Many other features are found on topographic maps but the ones identified here will get you started.

sell-land-for-development

10 Tips For Land Owners To Sell Land Hassle-Free

Posted on by Meghna Negi in Land Sale

Selling bare land or development land is vastly different than selling your residence. So it makes sense the person you hire to sell it, should be different too.

How To Sell Land To Developers

  1. Choose a real estate agent or brokerage who specializes in land sales and understands the process. Find someone who stays current on what’s happening in this sector and knows the ins and outs of selling land.
  1. Use an agent who provides a comprehensive marketing strategy. This might include:
  • Market analysis and comparable sales of similar type properties.
  • Using their website and social media to promote the land.
  • Using signage for drive-by traffic.

Don’t be shy about asking what other methods they employ to market the land for sale.

3. Understand what uses the land is zoned for. Are there easements, right of ways, restrictive covenants or anything else that might affect the value or future use of the property?

If a property has to be rezoned, for instance, it will take time to work through the process. If the property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), there are restrictions on what the land can be used for.

  1. Understand the tax implications when selling land. Will you have to pay capital gains? Is the sale subject to GST? Those are questions for your accountant and/or lawyer to answer before you sign agreements to sell the land.
  1. Ask for a large, non-refundable deposit. Selling land often takes longer than selling a residential property and completion dates can be a year or more. A buyer will be more prone to complete the sale transaction if they’ve already put up a large deposit they can’t get back and it provides the seller with some certainty as well.
  1. Find out the highest and best use for the land and market it to those buyers. Selling land is tricky, especially if it’s for development purposes so make sure you know what these uses are beforehand. 
  1. Understand the terms of any offers before you sign. Talk to your accountant or legal counsel if there’s any question about the proposed terms. While your real estate agent can give you guidance, they aren’t lawyers or accountants and may not fully understand how the sale of land will impact your specific situation.
  1. Be prepared to wait. Just selling the land can take time, sometimes a year or more. After that, the buyer may have subject conditions to waive before the sale can complete. If they’re awaiting approval of development permits or rezoning, this can add a significant amount of time before you actually finalize the sale of the land.
  1. Ensure your real estate agent weeds out anyone who’s “just-looking”. Selling land is a lengthy process so you don’t want to waste time on anyone who is not a serious buyer.
  1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask your real estate agent, your lawyer, your accountant, and anyone else who can provide the expertise you need to sell the land.

Selling land doesn’t have to create a lot of stress. If you find the right agent to sell your development land, they’ll alleviate the hassle and assist you throughout the process.