What You Don’t Know About Buying An Existing Modoc Country Home Can Hurt You #4 – Winter Accessibility

You've found an existing home in Modoc County that you LOVE! Great.

You've seen the road in the summer and it's a dirt road. Does it have gravel on it? Does it have ruts? It's easy to get to this house - no problem.

Until I lived in country home on a dirt road, I didn't understand the concept of "Modoc Mud." As someone once said, it's "slipperier than snot" and never mind the mud tires, the stuff sticks to your tires like "Dog Sh**" (my customer's description) and there is absolutely no traction. You're not going anywhere in Modoc Mud except for down as you spin your tires in it.

Check the condition of your access roads. If you have deep ruts and/or the road has no gravel - you are not going to have decent access in the winter. Many smaller home sites - 1-20 acres are in subdivisions with CC&Rs - the property owners association is probably responsible for grading and graveling your road. Make sure it gets done before rain and snow hit (usually September to October) for the season.

The last thing you want is not to be able to get out and about in the winter months.