If you live in a suburban or semirural area and the demands of caring for your property have you feeling like a pioneer, don't despair. Today's pioneers have access to a wide range of equipment, services and specialists that can help turn their wilderness into a wonderland.

"Oftentimes first-time land owners know what outdoor tasks they want to accomplish, but they don't know what kind of equipment they need," says Cleo Franklin, manager John Deere Large Property Owner customer segment.

For example, Peggy Sundberg purchased land in Colorado with the vision of turning 43 acres of rocky soil into her very own horse ranch.

"I was determined to do most of the work required to build my own ranch, but I didn't quite know where to begin," says Sundberg. "I knew I'd need equipment, but it was beyond me to know what would work best for the task ahead.

"My dealer took the time to listen and understand what my needs were," says Sundberg. "He was then able to help me visualize the scope of work I could do with the equipment, which enabled me to make an informed decision when it came to the buying stage."

Many customers, says Franklin, are like Sundberg-they tend to think in terms of tasks instead of tools.

"A good dealer," he explained, "will know the type of equipment you need by asking you detailed questions about the type of property you own and the type of chores you plan to do."

Before researching equipment, Franklin says to consider the type of chores you plan to do, such as:

• Hauling

• Towing

• Loading

• Snow removal

• Mowing hay

• Tilling

• Removing trees

• Mowing

• Trimming

• Brush removal.

"The more you know about your workload," he says, "the better your chances of going home with the right equipment."

Franklin observed that customers walking into a dealership for the first time are typically surprised at the level of service they receive. Depending on the products and dealership, some services include:

• Individualized customer attention throughout the buying process

• Experienced, trained staff

• Product demonstration

• Home delivery of product

• Safety lessons

• Onsite service calls

• Seasonal maintenance checkups.

"My dealer was wonderful to me," says Sundberg. "He delivered my tractor to the house and spent more than three hours instructing me on correct operating procedures. I found that this tractor I was once scared of using is now fun to drive."

If you're new to buying equipment or looking to upgrade, Franklin says now may be an exciting time to see all of the new innovations coming to the market.

"There is a growing trend of people moving to homes with larger property, and the equipment industry has responded by offering new products specific to meet the needs of this demographic."

In the last three years alone, John Deere has expanded its product offerings to include a new line of ATVs, an all-new expanded line of utility vehicles, new zero-turn radius mowers, new lawn tractors and a new expanded lineup of compact tractors ranging from 24 to 58 hp.

"Never before have property owners had such a wide range of equipment options to choose from," says Franklin. "Homeowners may be pioneers in their own backyard, but it's reassuring that they have a friendly and knowledgeable John Deere dealer nearby to help them visualize their tasks, do the work and enjoy the results of a job well done."

Tony Prescott