Land Smart Resources

Brickman: We’re a soup-to-nuts company and cover all aspects of rural lands. We currently have 35 properties in 15 counties for sale.  Some are investment grade planted pines, some are open land, some are excellent hunting properties.

We also offer services to land owners and land buyers.  For example. a lot of clients retain us to help them locate and purchase a property. Some people like to shop on their own, but others prefer professional assistance with locating, valuing, negotiating, financing, etc.  We keep a database on over 35,000 landowners in Alabama and over 1000 real estate agents.  Using this we’ll canvas an area to find out what’s for sale. We’ll talk to agents and landowners to develop a list of prospective properties to look at.  Covering a large area to find out what’s for sale is a pretty difficult task for most people.  We investigate price, landowner motivations, inspect the property for suitability, etc.  The biggest mistake buyers make is not looking at a lot of properties before making a purchase decision.  So, we make sure our clients look at lots of properties & get the kind of place they want at a fair value.

We also offer forest management services that include selling & appraising timber, planting trees, maintaining roads, prescribed burning, putting in fire lanes vegetation control, installing green-fields, etc.  We help people achieve whatever goals they have for their property.

Question: You have mentioned representing sellers. What can you do for a seller?
Brickman: Well, we offer a full-service marketing program from signs to internet, to closing.  The key to getting top-dollar for land is getting the word out to a very large audience of buyers.  So, we have invested heavily in creating a substantial internet presence, which is where we see the future of land marketing.  But not everyone wants to use an agent.  So, we also offer a unique service to landowners who want to handle their own sale with no commission.  We’ll put a marketing plan together that includes newspaper ads, signage, presence on the internet & a brochure.  There are benefits to each approach, depending on the skill and motivation of the owner.

Question: I understand you also develop wildlife management plans for landowners.
Brickman: Yes, we do. We associate with a certified wildlife biologist.  One of the most popular wildlife services is an on-site inspection of your property. The landowner gets a written report with recommendations of projects to improve your wildlife and to give you a better hunting experience.   Things like installing shooting lanes, stalking trails or shooting houses; where to put green fields, what to plant and when; how to improve the soil with liming and fertilization; how to enhance native vegetation to provide better nutrition; controlling exotic vegetation like kudzu and privet; adding supplemental feeding with mineral licks and feeds.  Then the landowner can implement the projects themselves if they want.  But importantly, we have the equipment and folks that can complete the projects for you if desired.

Question: So, your company not only sells and manages rural lands for investors but also has services available for individuals who already own rural lands and who want to improve them for wildlife or better manage timber and cash flow from these lands. Is that correct?
Brickman: That’s right. We handle real estate transactions for people that want to buy or sell rural land, and land management, forestry and wildlife projects for people who own rural land.

To learn more about Land Smart Resources, go to www.LandSmartResources.com, call 205-936-2160, or email tbrick@LandSmartResources.com.