Start with the land you want to sell and the papers you already have. Check a price, decide how to find a buyer and compare the money you'll keep. You can list with an agent, sell it yourself or ask a direct buyer for an offer. You don't need every answer before you start asking questions.
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.
Write down the nearest road, parcel number from your tax bill and the acres you want to sell. A parcel number is a label used in property records. If you own several pieces of land, list each one so a buyer knows what is included.
The county's Director of Equalization is its property assessor. That page links to the Douglas County map viewer and lists the office phone number, 605-724-2688. Ask the office for help finding your lot record if you don't have a parcel number or street address.
Keep the land description from your deed with your notes. It may use a section, township and range rather than a street address. These labels identify land in a survey grid. Copy the wording instead of guessing what an old family nickname means.
If you plan to sell only part of a larger tract, say that early. A buyer and the person handling closing need to know which part you mean. Ask what work would be needed before paying for a new survey or promising a split.
Put these items in one folder. Photos or scans are useful for early talks.
If you can't find your deed, ask the Douglas County Register of Deeds how to get a copy. The office lists its phone number as 605-724-2204. Have the owner name, land location and any deed reference ready. Ask about copy options and cost before ordering.
You can say, “I'm getting ready to sell this land. What do you need to help me find the deed?” The deed office and assessor do different jobs: one keeps recorded land papers, while the other helps with property assessment records.
Missing papers are something you can work through. You don't need a new survey or building plan just to begin asking about a sale.
Look at the owners named on the deed. If you share the land, talk about what each person wants before you agree to a sale. Make sure everyone means the same land and the same acres.
If you're handling inherited land or helping settle a loved one's estate, start with the deed and any estate papers you have. The person handling closing can help work out who needs to sign and what else may be needed. You don't have to sort everything out alone.
Share what you know about loans, unpaid taxes and agreements for someone else to use the land. These details can affect the next step or the money you keep.
A town lot, pasture and crop field raise different questions. Give buyers a clear picture of what you have.
If someone farms the land, talk about the crop and when they can keep using it. Put any agreement about harvest, rent or leaving the land in writing. Don't promise a buyer the land will be empty until you've checked the current arrangement.
Take photos from safe places. Show the entrance and the condition of the land. Ask the person using it before walking through crops or an area with livestock.
If a buyer asks about building, share existing plans or approvals. If you don't know, say so and agree on who will check. A power line nearby doesn't prove a connection is ready.
The Director of Equalization page has Ag Sales lists by year. “Ag” means farm land. Those lists can help you start looking for completed sales; they don't set a price for your land.
Choose sales that match the land's size, use, location and access. A crop field is a weak match for a small town lot. A tract with buildings may be a weak match for bare land. An agent who sells farm or vacant land can help you check the differences.
Keep the parcel or land description and deed reference beside each comparison. Check whether the price covers one tract or several. Two records may describe the same deal; count that sale once.
Asking prices show what sellers hope to get, not what buyers paid. Your tax value also isn't a promise of today's selling price. If you can't find good matches, keep that uncertainty in your price discussion.
Our land value guide can help you make a short comparison sheet. Ask an agent which completed sales they would use and why.
You can explore more than one way before deciding. If you'd like a Reelvest offer to compare, tell us about your land. You decide whether it fits your needs.
Ask for the price, costs you pay and target closing date in writing. Find out what the buyer plans to check, when they can end the deal and what happens to the deposit. Ask for any unclear term to be explained.
Compare the money you'll keep after fees, loan payoff and unpaid taxes. A higher offer can leave less if you pay more costs. Ask the person handling closing for a written estimate.
Check that the contract names the right land and owners. Agree on any items to remove and any use of the land that will continue after the sale.
Closing is the final step: the agreed papers are signed, payment is handled and ownership changes. Keep your signed papers and final cost statement.
For a useful start today, find your tax bill, write down the land and acres, and list your biggest question. Bring that short list to your first conversation.
Ask the county Register of Deeds how to get a copy. Have the owner name, location and any deed reference ready. Ask about copy options and cost before ordering.
Yes. Use the parcel number from your tax bill, land description from your deed and nearest road. Ask the Director of Equalization for help finding the property record if you need it.
Start by sharing the rental agreement and what you know about the current crop. Talk about when use can end or continue. Get help reviewing the agreement before promising a buyer the land will be empty.
They are a starting point for comparisons. Check size, use, access and what the sale included. Ask a land agent which sales fit your property. A price from a different kind of land may be a poor match.
Local source links reviewed October 4, 2026.