So you’ve decided you want to build your next home from the ground up. These are the highlights; we’ve explored each point more thoroughly in a series of posts as noted in the links.
Check and Decide your community : Just like buying an existing home, think up front about the kind of community and location that suits your style. Whether you want sidewalks, bike paths, schools and shopping within walking distance or the nearest neighbor a mile away, no other path to home ownership gives you as many options as buying your own lot.
Review roads and access to your dream land : You’re generally going to want land that fronts directly on or has vehicular access to a public road. If it doesn’t, make sure the proper easements and rights of way are in place.
Check out the lot from satellite to street: This is really an area where technology is your best friend. From the satellite photos of properties you find right here on Google Street View, you can see what’s two miles away as easily as what’s next door. That beautiful vacant lot for sale might be bargain priced because there’s a pig farm just down the road.
Choosing a top Builder : Buying your own building lot also means choosing your own builder…usually. Check out potential builders as much as you check out the property. Do you want a completely customized home, the convenience of choosing a stock plan or the choice of a builder in a traditional development? Or does your perfect lot come with a particular builder already attached?
When looking for a build on your lot builder, here are four things to consider:
Choose a builder with strong experience in building on a customer’s land. Many builders specialize in building on improved lots in master-planned communities that already have the infrastructure in place (water, gas, electrical, sewer, etc.). Other builders specialize in building on land that requires improvement. Some builders do both. Make sure your builder has strong build on your lot expertise.
Select a builder that offers a variety of floor plans and can adapt a floor plan to the topography of your lot.
Choose a builder that has enough buying power to ensure you receive the best prices for high quality goods. Such savings are passed on to the homebuyer, including purchase price of appliances, light fixtures, and flooring. Consider working with a builder that has a design center where you can choose and coordinate your cabinetry and other options.
Pick a builder that will stand behind and service the home. Make sure the builder has a good warranty program, which typically should include a ten year warranty on certain aspects of the structural integrity of the home.
It’s All Worth It.
Living where you want, on land you may have dreamed about for years, has become an essential part of the American dream. In a culture that values individuality and self-expression, more people are opting to buy their land first, and then building a custom or semi-custom home.
By hiring a builder with a strong build on your lot program, homebuyers can save money as well as the hassle of hiring their own architect and general contractor. Build on your lot builders will assist you with site evaluations, floorplans, permits, coordination, construction, and in some cases, even financing.