President, Home Builders Association of Dayton
As autumn approaches, there always seems to be a push to find the perfect new home – or the ideal lot to build your perfect home. As we all know “location, location, location” is incredibly important.
Fortunately, no matter what you are looking for in location, there are affordable lots available that can offer the amenities you seek. Take your time, and be methodical about where you start to build your new home. Here are a few points to consider when searching for the perfect home lot.
When choosing a lot, start by evaluating your personal needs and wants. Determine what would suit your family’s lifestyle best and move forward from there. Are you looking for a housing community with a park, pool and open area, or are you trying to find something more secluded where privacy takes precedence.
What kind of school district appeals to you? Is being close to shopping, restaurants and other amenities a priority, or are you fine with driving a distance for these? What about your commute to work?
Something to note: try not to confuse your wants with your needs. It’s great to have a detailed list of everything you want in a location, but it is important to realize that as you become more decisive, the cost will increase. After you evaluate the list of wants and needs, break them down into some categories.
If you have kids, you may want to stay within a specific school district. When you are talking with a builder, ensure that they research the area and do not commit to a lot that doesn’t meet that particular requirement. Your local county will have a property search website that can help you determine what school district your lot falls in, and will provide you with exact sizes of those lots.
This county property search database is also a good measure when looking up comparable houses in the area and can give you a good idea of what your property taxes might be each year.
The list of location requirements could be endless, so prioritize the most pertinent things on your list and try to find a lot that encompasses the most.
Depending on the particular area you are interested in, you may not have some public utilities available at your potential location. In most populated areas you will have access to utilities such as sewer, water, gas, electric, cable TV, internet and phone. Aside from water and electric, all of these can be easily substituted.
If your lot does not have a public sewer, you will need to put in a septic system. Septic systems can be costly and will put you back around $12,000 to $15,000.
If your lot does not have gas from a utility provider, you can either use electricity to heat your air and water, or you can install a large propane tank on your property that will sit either above or below ground. Worst case scenario, it will cost you around $5,000 for a large propane tank, in addition to the fluctuating prices of propane.
Cable TV, internet and phone can be substituted for satellite options, which have advanced technologically quite a bit over the past decade. These services tend to be more expensive and reliability can be hit and miss during storms.
The biggest problem that can arise with a lot is the structural integrity of the ground your home stands on. Water is an unavoidable factor to consider in relation to your ground. When you construct a home, you want to ensure your home will be sited on the highest point of the lot and that there isn’t a source of draining water stemming off a neighbor’s lot or a nearby hill.
Second, be aware of natural sources of water like creeks and springs. If at all possible avoid land that has these detriments unless there is enough room around your home to deal with these obstacles adequately.
As mentioned, there is an extensive list of what to consider when choosing a lot. Working with your builder or a trained professional can help in this important step in the building process. For a list of builders and professionals, please visit HBADayton.com.