The first step in building a house is finding a place to put it. This is not a step to be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider, not the least of which are the exact location of property lines, the setback requirements (the distance a house must be set back from properly lines), and whether there are any easements or restrictions on what or where you can build.
Soil characteristics are important when choosing a building site. We once built a house in Montana where 6 in. of topsoil hid large boulders, making it impossible to dig trenches by hand. Building on expansive clay soil requires extra precautions. Learn about the lot’s zoning, whether its situated in a Hood plain or on a wetland, and whether any hazardous materials are, or have ever been, present. Removing asbestos debris or an underground oil tank can be very expensive.
Also check to see whether utilities are in place—water, water meter, sewer or septic system, electricity, gas, and telephone and cable lines. When we first moved to Oregon, I inquired about a two-acre site near where we now live. The city water lines stopped mile away from the property, and to drill a deep well or extend water lines to the new site would have cost a small fortune. We looked elsewhere. Be sure to check with the local building department (as well as the health, zoning, wetlands, and any other local departments that must issue approval for л construction project) about any potential lot. This investigative work can save you a loi of lime and money. Make sure you’ve done all your
homework to determine a lot’s suitability
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before you buy.
Particularly in cities, finding a suitable lot can be a daunting task. The price of the property can sometimes be the biggest impediment to building an affordable house. 1 know of a couple of marginally suitable building lots in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles that recently sold for $258,000 each. Both of those lots are pitched so steeply that each one will require at least SI50,000 just to prepare for construction. That’s $400,000 before the owners can even start building! Obviously most of us have to look elsewhere. There’s no easy way to find the “perfect” lot. Check with realtors, follow up on newspaper and online ads, let friends know you’re looking for land, and focus on the outskirts of the town or city where you’d like to build. But above all, be persistent. Keep your energy and optimism high and you’ll find the right piece of land.
