How To Choose The Best Site For Your New Home

By Dan Handle, 23 Jan 23:12

Choosing the Perfect Building Site

Location of Neighborhood
1. Look around, talk to neighbors. Are the streets safe and is there enough privacy?
2. Are the neighbors likely to be compatible with your tastes and lifestyle?
3. Will the size of your home be compatible with the existing market?
4. Are there sources of noise, smoke, or odors that will become a problem in the future?
5. Are there any new developments planned near your site that will affect your neighborhood?

Community Facilities
1. Are there adequate shopping facilities nearby?
2. If you have children, how’s the school system?
3. Are there daycare centers available?
4. Are places of worship available and convenient?
5. Are Police and Fire Protection adequate?
6. Is there a Hospital or Medical Center nearby?
7. Is public transportation frequent and convenient?
8. Are there suitable parks/recreation close by?

Utility & Improvements
1. What is the water system, public or private well? If there is a well, what is the depth and gallons per minute?
2. Will the service be enough for a sprinkler system if that is important to you?
3. Is the septic system adequate and reliable for future needs?
4. If you need a septic system, is the soil, percolation rate and water table adequate for a new system? What is the anticipated cost of a system?
5. Are there fire hydrants close by?
6. Is there electricity overhead or underground?
7. Is there gas in the area?
8. Are there storm sewers and are they of adequate size?
9. Are the property tax rates reasonable and how do they compare with surrounding areas?

Present Zoning of Adjoining & Surrounding Property

1. Check if there are any property restrictions such as building size, setbacks on your lot, any public utility easements such as power, sewer?

2. Are there specific uses not allowed? (i.e. storing a boat or camping trailer in your yard)
3. Are there any architectural restrictions in the development? (i.e. only
colonial homes allowed)
4. Check with the local planning and zoning boards about recent zone change proposals that may affect your property.

Site Disposition
1. Is the lot well drained and where are the storm drains in relation to your site?
2. Is the subsoil good? Remember that this is important if you need a septic system.
3. Is there sufficient depth to assure a gravity drain to sewer, especially if there will be any plumbing located in the basement?
4. What is the topography of the land? Is the lot sloping or is it flat? This will affect many factors including light, walkout capability, and drainage.
5. How high is the water table? This will tell you if a basement is possible.
6. Are the natural features of the site desirable – views, trees and shrubbery, privacy?

Orientation
1. The sun’s path is a major consideration when you are looking for your site.
2. If it’s nice to wake up in the morning light and have breakfast in the sunlight – face East.
3. Southern exposure is beneficial in the winter. The Northwest is known for its long dark winters.
4. Northern exposure is best for even light – artist’s studio.
5. The location of your house is determined by your site. Let nature help you place rooms where intended.

Personal Taste
1. The last thing, and probably the most important, is personal taste. Do you prefer city, country, seaside, or mountain? Are you looking for comfort, security, and serenity or bustle, close-in activity and city hum? When you’re building your dream home, a lot of what makes it a perfect home is what sort of community and activity surrounds you. We tell our clients to “draw a picture in their heads,” then put those details on paper.

2. It is a good idea to go to the site on a quiet sunny day and a rather crummy dreary day. If weather will be an enormous factor (like heavy rain), you might drive to the site to check out the drainage in the area. Are there steep hills that may prevent you from getting out of your home in the occasional icy or snowy winter days? You may even want to drive from this site to your workplace or grocery store during heavy commute times. Take time to walk around and truly observe your site: your heart will tell you if this is the one.

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Tags: new construction site selection