Read the neighbors
Every logged well near your parcel is a data point: depth to water, geology encountered, yield achieved. A cluster of consistent nearby logs suggests (never promises) similar results; wildly varying neighbors signal geological roulette worth pricing in.
I pull neighboring logs as standard practice when clients evaluate bare land — it takes effort and repays it immediately in negotiating clarity.
Site and budget realistically
Siting rules constrain where a well can go relative to septic areas, property lines, and other features — which interacts with your building plans on smaller parcels. Sequence the whole site plan together: well area, septic area, home site, driveway.
Budget with a range, not a number, and decide in advance how you will respond to a deeper-than-hoped hole. Land contracts can also be structured with feasibility contingencies that let testing inform the purchase itself.
Local rule of thumb: Buy bare land with a water plan, a septic plan, and a power plan — or a price that admits you have none.