Start with where the land is and what you know about it. Gather your deed and tax bill if you have them, check a price and choose how to find a buyer. You can list with an agent, sell it yourself or compare a direct offer. You don't need every paper or answer before you begin.
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, size and parcel number from your tax bill. A parcel number is the label used for a piece of land in the tax records. If you have several tracts, list each one and say which you want to sell.
The West Virginia Property Assessment portal links to Property Search and Property Viewer. Start with Gilmer County and an owner name or parcel number. A map can help you find an empty tract that has no street address.
Match the result with your deed and tax bill. The state portal warns that new ownership or map changes may take time to appear. If a name, lot line or size looks wrong, ask the local assessor for help rather than guessing.
A tax map is a way to locate the land. It doesn't settle the legal boundary. Save any old survey you have and share it if a boundary question comes up.
Your deed records a change in ownership and describes the land. If you can't find a copy, ask the Gilmer County Clerk how to get one. The clerk keeps deeds and other recorded land papers.
Give the owner name, location and any deed book and page shown on your tax bill. A book and page reference helps the office find the record. You can say, “I'm getting ready to sell this land. Can you help me find the deed?” Ask about copy options and any cost before ordering.
Put these items in a folder:
You can start early talks with photos or scans. Keep the originals safe. Our land seller document checklist can help you sort what you have.
Write down the owners named on the deed. If you share the land, talk with the other owners about what each person wants. A buyer needs to know which land is offered and who will be part of the decision.
If you're handling inherited land or helping settle a loved one's estate, start with the deed and any estate papers you have. A closing professional can help you work out who can sign and what may still be needed. You don't have to sort everything out alone.
If you've been told that mineral rights are separate from the land, mention that and share any papers you have. Don't promise what rights are included if you aren't sure. Ask the closing professional to explain what the sale would cover.
A wooded hillside and a small roadside lot raise different questions. Give an honest description of your tract instead of trying to make it sound like every kind of property.
Take a few photos from the road and safe places on the tract. Show the entrance and the shape of the ground. You don't need to clear woods or build a road just to ask about selling.
If you're unsure about a detail, say so. “I haven't checked that yet” is useful. Share existing plans or approvals, but don't promise a home can be built just because there's one nearby.
Start with recent completed sales of similar nearby land. Match the size, road access, slope and use as closely as you can. A small lot with services may be a weak comparison for a large wooded tract.
Check what each sale included. A price for several tracts, a house or separate rights can mislead you if you treat it as one bare-land sale. Keep the parcel number and deed reference with your notes so you don't count the same deal twice.
Asking prices show what other sellers hope to get. They don't show the final price paid. The tax value also isn't a promise of today's sale price. If good matches are scarce, ask an agent who sells vacant land for a price opinion.
Choose a likely selling range and think about the amount you'd be comfortable keeping after costs. Our land value guide explains a simple comparison.
You can talk with more than one kind of buyer before choosing. If you'd like to include Reelvest, tell us about your land. You decide whether an offer fits.
Ask for the price, costs you pay and target closing date in writing. Find out what the buyer plans to check and when they can end the deal. Read what happens to the deposit and ask about any unclear deadline.
Compare the money you'll keep after fees, loan payoff and unpaid taxes. A larger offer may leave less if you pay more costs. Ask the person handling closing for a written estimate.
Before signing, 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. Don't buy a new survey just to start; ask whether one is needed for the deal.
Closing is the final step: the agreed papers are signed, payment is handled and ownership changes. Keep your signed papers and final cost statement.
To get started today, find your tax bill, write down the nearest road and list your biggest question. That's enough for a useful first conversation.
Yes. Start with the location, owner name and any tax bill or deed you have. Ask the assessor for help with the property record and the county clerk for a deed copy. Missing papers are something you can work through.
Compare it with your deed and tax bill, then ask the local assessor for help. State records can take time to update. A tax map helps locate the land, but it doesn't settle legal boundaries.
Not just to ask about a sale. Take useful photos and describe access and the ground. Ask whether work would help before paying for clearing, a road or a new survey.
Yes. Compare price, costs, work involved and sale terms. Ask what you'll keep and what must happen before closing. A Reelvest offer is one option you can consider.
Local source links reviewed October 4, 2026.