A lot of buyers wait too long to pick up the phone.

They scroll listings. Save screenshots. Compare acreage. Watch the same properties for weeks. Maybe even plan a drive up before they’ve really figured out what they need to know first.

I get it.

A lot of buyers don’t want to feel pushed. They don’t want to sound unprepared. They don’t want to get pulled into something before they’re ready.

But honestly, a quick call can save you a lot of wasted time if you know what to ask.

I’m Amanda Oldfield, a REALTOR® in the Interlakes and 100 Mile region, and a big part of what I do is help buyers sort out whether a property actually fits before they spend a weekend chasing the wrong one. If you’re looking at rec property in Interlakes, here’s what I’d ask before making the trip.

Start with this

Ask whether the property really fits how you want to use it.

That sounds basic, but it’s the question behind everything else.

Are you looking for:

• a place to camp now and build later

• a lot that works for family weekends

• something near Bridge Lake, Sheridan Lake, or Deka Lake

• more privacy

• easier access

• a setup that could turn into something bigger later on

If you’re not clear on that yet, the call should help with that too.

You do not need to have every answer before you call. You just want to get out of “random listing mode.”

Ask what the listing doesn’t make clear

A lot of buyers rely too heavily on the write-up and the photos.

That’s where people get misled.

A better call usually clears up things like:

• how usable the lot really is

• whether access is straightforward

• whether it works for camping now

• whether the future plan makes sense there

• what kind of tradeoffs jump out right away

That’s the kind of stuff that can save you a full wasted trip.

Ask whether it’s actually worth seeing in person

This is a really good question, and not enough buyers ask it directly.

Try this:

“Based on what I want to do, do you think this one is actually worth the drive?”

That usually gets to the point fast.

A good answer should not sound like pressure.
It should sound like clarity.

Sometimes the right answer is yes.
Sometimes it’s “maybe, but…”
Sometimes it’s honestly no.

That kind of call can save you a lot of gas and a lot of second-guessing.

Ask what concerns would need a closer look

Every property has tradeoffs.

So before making the trip, I’d want to know what would need closer attention if this one stayed on the shortlist.

That could be:

• access

• layout

• usable space

• current setup for trailers or camping

• future build fit

• whether the lot only looks stronger online than it feels in real life

You don’t need a perfect property.
You just want to know where the question marks are before you commit your time.

Ask whether the property fits now and later

This matters a lot for the kind of buyers you’re targeting.

A lot of rec buyers want something they can use now and improve or build on later.

That’s a smart approach. But only if the land actually supports both parts of the plan.

So I’d ask:

“Does this look like a place that works for now and later, or are we trying to force it?”

That question can save buyers from buying land that only works in theory.

Ask whether you’re comparing the right listings

This is a great call question too.

A lot of buyers get stuck because they’re comparing properties that shouldn’t really be in the same group in the first place.

Maybe one is near-lake and one is much farther back.
Maybe one is more family-use oriented and one is more long-term land play.
Maybe one is clearly more usable, even if the acreage is lower.

A good conversation can tighten the shortlist a lot faster than another weekend of scrolling.

A simple example

Let’s say a couple from the Fraser Valley has three listings saved.

One near Bridge Lake. One by Sheridan Lake. One near Deka Lake.

All of them look possible.

But once they call and talk through what they actually want, family camping now, room for a trailer, usable land, and future build potential, one of the three starts standing out right away. One looks too awkward. One raises too many access questions. One sounds like the strongest fit.

That’s a much better place to start than driving up to all three and hoping it becomes obvious later.

Why this call matters

A lot of buyers think calling means they need to be ready.

That’s not really how I see it.

Sometimes the call is what helps you get ready.

You don’t need to know everything before reaching out.
You just need enough to say, “Here’s what we think we want. Can you help us figure out if this one really fits?”

That’s a useful conversation.

And honestly, that’s usually where people stop wasting time.

Common mistakes buyers make

Waiting until they’ve already planned the trip

A quick call first usually makes the trip much better.

Asking only if the property is still available

That tells you almost nothing about fit.

Treating every saved listing like it deserves equal attention

Some are interesting. Fewer are actually worth your time.

Thinking they need to sound more prepared than they are

You don’t. You just need to be honest about what you’re trying to figure out.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking at recreational property in Interlakes, the right call can save you a lot of wasted weekends, wrong tours, and fuzzy decisions.

If you’ve got a few listings saved and want help figuring out which ones are actually worth your time, call me. I’m happy to give you a straight answer.

Amanda Oldfield is a REALTOR® in the Interlakes and 100 Mile region helping buyers make smarter decisions about camp-now, build-later and recreational property.

Amanda Oldfield
Amanda Oldfield Realtor - Exp Realty
96 Hwy 97, 100 Mile House, BC
250-318-5202