Begin with the land agreement
Before buying equipment, establish which work you are permitted or expected to carry out. Ask the landowner or agent about access, storage, contractors and proposed changes. Obtain appropriate advice on the agreement rather than assuming that renting a field permits every alteration.
Record existing facilities and what happens when the tenancy or licence ends. A machine that depends on a new building or permanent installation creates a different commitment from a portable tool.
Map the complete journey
Consider where the equipment starts, how it reaches the land and where it goes afterwards. Transport, loading and secure storage may determine the workable options before machine specifications do. Do not assume a vehicle can carry or tow a proposed load; obtain competent confirmation of the whole arrangement and applicable rules.
Where a contractor is an option, ask whether they can reach the site and what minimum charges apply. Include each visit in the comparison.
Favour adaptable decisions
List the jobs likely to remain similar if you move, then separate those specific to the present site. You may prefer to own frequently used portable equipment and contract out a specialised job tied to this field.
That is a planning approach, not a universal rule. Repeated transport can make portable ownership inconvenient, while reliable on-site storage may change the answer.
Budget for leaving as well as arriving
Include delivery, retrieval, temporary storage and any agreed reinstatement in the cash plan. Keep improvements, routine maintenance and machinery purchases in separate categories so their costs remain visible.
If the land arrangement is short or uncertain, test the decision against an early move. Ask whether you could still use, store or sell the equipment without assuming a particular resale price.
Choose the next commitment carefully
Use the smallholding machinery planner to compare broad approaches, then check permissions and practical arrangements. The useful first purchase is one supported by the work, the agreement and a credible plan for moving it, not simply the smallest machine in a catalogue.