Selecting a piece of land is a critical step in the process of building your own home. When choosing a property, you should be as thorough as you are when shopping for a builder or an architect, while taking your specific needs into account. As the piece of land is a key element for your house plan, it’s often the first step in the process that you must complete. Here are a few pointers to guide you through it.

Property location

The lifestyle you’re looking for is very important when considering where you want to build. For instance, you should consider proximity to stores, hospitals, main roads and schools. Access to public transportation must also be considered, in some cases. Your lifestyle, leisure activities and interests should all define the dream location of your new home.

Condition of the property and positioning of the house

When selecting a piece of land, sun exposure and the orientation of your house are very important. The nature of the soil, the surface area of the property and its limits are all things to consider before buying a piece of land. The presence of rock, the bearing capacity of the soil and the depth of the water table should also be taken into consideration. Areas with a steep slope will require specially designed foundations which will limit your selection of plans for your home. If you want to connect your rain gutters to a rainwater collection system, the slope of your land will additionally need to be considered to facilitate the process.

Access to utilities

You will need to consider the fees involved in connecting to utilities, which is especially true when the property is located in a remote area. You need to plan how you will access the water supply system, or dig a well. You also need to see what is required for a drain field and a septic tank that complies with the environmental regulations in force, mainly when there’s no access to the sewage system. In addition, you need to calculate the cost for access to the power grid. It is preferable to have an expert conduct a study to avoid nasty and costly surprises.

Municipal and urban planning regulations

Each city has its own architectural design standards. Make sure you get the right information as to what the municipality requires for the shape of the roof or the type and color of materials to use, for instance, prior to acquiring your piece of land. Some neighborhoods also have strict rules and regulations which will limit what you can do when building your dream home.