How to buy land- for sale by owner Options

[johnnybravo300]

I'm looking at a piece of off grid land that's for sale by owner. I've only talked to them in email and we should be meeting Friday if there's not too much snow up there but I've never done it this way. I've been through the house buying process 4 times in the past but the realtor did everything and I just signed....and they were regular mortgages for regular houses.....not sure on this.
Do I need a lawyer for anything? What paperwork should I expect to see? What questions should I ask?

I'm only looking at this land for now and we haven't negotiated anything so as for now I'm just a shopper but I'm interested. He said he bought it years ago to put some money away and I have a feeling it was a patented claim but he's never used it for anything and it just sits there. He doesn't seem to know much about it or the area, just that "it's a rough road and lots of snow up there" hehe.
I asked him if the land came with mineral rights and he said yes, and timber rights which is why I guessed it was a past claim. Most of the private owned land in that area is the same, or old old ranch land.

If anyone has experience with this or can give me some advice I'd sure appreciate it.
My wife and I are driving there tomorrow to see the conditions before I have these people come out. If it's snowed in and we can't access it there's no point but if we can get in we are meeting them Friday to talk.

He also mentioned that he would take part payment in trade so I'm guessing he isn't hurting for money. I asked him what he considered of trade value and he said make an offer. I do have a few things he may want but I don't even know what's legal when it comes to that kind of thing.

Anyone know this business?

[johnnybravo300]

He had a map posted with a pin dropped but it was miles off from the directions he gave me haha. "Past the bridge, past the meadow, take a right up the hill" type thing but we got there eventually.
I couldn't see his turn through the trees on google and it's not a marked road so wasn't on the map. Good thing it was close to home!

I never can seem to get good coordinates from people or even decent directions half the time. It's like they inherited it from Grandpa and they've maybe been there once?

Forget getting a realtor to go with you, if they have a realtor...they just give you a blank stare if they even reply at all. They aren't taking their Prius up there!