You can start with a tax bill, a deed or the location of your land. Gather the details you have, choose a price and decide how to find a buyer. Before you sign, compare the money you keep and the terms of the sale. You do not need every paper or answer on day one.
Tell us about your land. There’s no obligation to accept an offer.
Start with what you know. These steps will help you get ready and choose the way to sell that fits you.
Look for the tax map number on a recent tax bill. This number identifies one piece of land in the county records. It is useful when an empty lot has no street address.
Richland County’s Mapping and Records page links to a property search by tax map number, address or owner. It also links to local maps and the Register of Deeds.
Save the number, location and acres shown. Match the record with your deed or old map. If you find several lots under the same name, check which one you own before sending it to a buyer.
Do you want to sell two or more adjoining lots? List each number and say whether they are being sold together. Ask buyers to name the same lots in their written offers.
Start with what you already have:
Missing your deed or plat? Contact the Richland County Register of Deeds. Its page explains in-person help and online access. Staff can point you toward the records, but cannot search for you or prepare legal papers.
The county’s online records service charges for access. It recommends the tax map number for deed searches. You can ask about getting a copy in person before paying for an online subscription.
Use our seller document checklist to keep track. A missing paper is a next step to work on, not a reason to give up.
If you own the land with someone else, talk about the sale before making a promise to a buyer. Ask the closing lawyer to check who has authority to sign.
If you’re handling inherited land or helping settle a loved one’s estate, bring the papers you have to the estate lawyer or closing team. They can explain the remaining steps. You can still gather records and compare selling choices while those questions are checked.
A deed copy alone does not prove that every ownership question is settled. Share loan statements, tax notices and letters about claims on the property. Ask what needs clearing up before closing.
Do not change a deed yourself to make the sale easier. Richland’s Register of Deeds directs people to a qualified attorney for changes such as adding or removing an owner’s name.
A few clear notes and current photos are more useful than a long list of guesses. Tell buyers:
Do not promise a buyer can build a home just because the lot is empty. Share written approvals you have and let the right local office answer questions about a new use.
You do not need to clear the land, build a driveway or buy a new survey just to begin. Before paying for work, ask why it is needed, who pays and whether it is likely to help the sale.
Start with recent sales of similar nearby land. A small lot with road access and services is not a strong price match for a large wooded tract. Compare location, size, access and usable ground.
A listing price is what a seller asks. A completed sale price is what a buyer paid. The tax value has a different purpose. Ask a local land agent which completed sales fit your property and why.
If you would like a direct offer to compare, tell Reelvest about your land. You can decide whether it fits alongside your other choices.
Check that the agreement names the right land. Read the price, dates, deposit and each side’s costs. Ask what allows the buyer to cancel and what happens to the deposit.
A loan payoff, unpaid taxes or sale costs may reduce the money you keep. Ask for current amounts and an estimate before signing. Our offer comparison worksheet helps you put two offers side by side.
For example, a $40,000 offer with $3,000 in seller costs leaves $37,000 before any loan or tax balance. Those numbers are only an example. Ask for a breakdown for your own sale.
Confirm who handles closing, which signatures are needed and what checks remain. Before the final papers are signed, review the money breakdown and ask how you will be paid. Keep copies of the agreement and closing papers.
Start with the tax map number on a tax bill. The county’s Mapping and Records page links to property searches and maps. Check the result against your deed or old survey.
Start with the Richland County Register of Deeds. Ask about finding the record and getting a copy. Online record access uses a paid subscription, so check the options before buying access.
You can start with the land as it is. Share current photos and known details. Before paying for clearing, a driveway or a survey, ask why the work is needed and whether it would help enough to cover its cost.
You can compare selling it yourself with using an agent or a direct buyer. Think about the work, costs and contract help each choice needs. Ask who will handle closing.
You can gather records, ask about value and compare selling options. Confirm who has authority to agree and sign before making a commitment.
Local source links reviewed October 4, 2026.