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Purchasing Your Building Lot
House plans for flat lots are less difficult and less expensive to build, but sloped lots house plans can offer a lot of unique character. A sloped lot can also allow you to place the garage under the house and possibly allocate a daylight basement. Scenic lots or sloping lots with spectacular views will inspire you to choose a house plan that offers large panoramic windows and large outdoor decks. You also need to be aware of lot dimensions. Narrow lots generally require a house design that has multiple floors instead of ranch style homes. Wider, shallow lots can be ideal for large, one-story house plans. Consider your house plan style and size before shopping for land.
There are a few considerations you should keep in mind before looking for building lots. To start, prepare a list of the most important items for a lot, neighborhood and area that are most important to you.
Questions to consider before purchasing your lot:
Is the building lot large enough for the house plan that you want?
There are often some stumbling blocks or building code restrictions that limit the precise location on the lot where house construction can take place. Check with the local building department prior to purchase to determine what restrictions might be in place for the lot.
If your chosen house plan necessitates a particular side or location for a driveway or garage, you'll need to determine the amount of clearance and turn around space required.
Although you could submit a petition to the local zoning board for a change in variance after purchase, this can be a lengthy process that can slow down the completion of your home. Sometimes, communities will not consent to changes or modifications to the zoning restrictions for residential areas.
Check with the developer or local zoning board for their requirements before you purchase the lot.
What is an easement?
Easements are considered public or private. They grant rights to persons other than the owner for access to and use of a property. A private easement is limited to a specific individual such as the owner of an adjoining land. A public easement is one that grants the right to a large group of individuals or to the public in general, such as the easement on public streets.
Some easements include:
Storm drain easements; sanitary sewer easements, electrical power easements, telephone easements; sidewalk easements; and driveway easements, also known as easements of access.
A restrictive easement is a condition placed on land by its owner or by government that in some way limits its use, usually regarding the types of structures that may be built there or what may be done with the ground itself. Restrictive easements are also frequently placed on wetlands to prevent them from being destroyed by development.
If the zoning of a lot has easement restrictions, it may limit or restrict which areas of the property can be built. It could confine and limit the construction of your new home to a specific size and dimension as well as portion of the lot space. Therefore, check the local zoning laws prior to purchase to determine if any easements or restrictions might apply to the building lot that you're considering.
Will the lot flood? How is the sunlight?
Check drainage after heavy rain. Make sure the lot is not in a floodplain. A lot with standing water or a heavy flow of water during a rainstorm can lead to a wet basement or foundation and cause other problems down the road. Lots that are situated on low-lying areas adjacent to streams that periodically overflow may cause a property to flood. A landscape architect is a good resource for suggestions on solutions to address bad drainage or flooding concerns.
Check the direction of the sun. Where does it rise and where does it set? Consider which side of your new home will get southern exposure and receive the most natural light. You might want to position the house so the garage can be on the north side of the lot to not deprive main living areas natural light.
Another point to consider is the direction of the wind. By positioning the house to shield the outdoor living spaces and decks from winds, you'll be able to extend the use of these outdor entertaining spaces.
Keeping the above factors in mind will help you select the perfect lot and orientation for your new home.