The first step in building your dream home is purchasing a block of land. Simple, right? Unfortunately, the wrong block can actually have consequences that could significantly raise costs, affect the home building design and energy efficiency.
There are so many blocks of land to choose from – ones in residential subdivisions that are fully serviced, ones where a large plot of land has been divided up into smaller spots, ones with acreage but close to the city and many more.
It is important to ask a few specific questions before choosing any block of land, no matter it’s size, shape, or location.
It is a personal choice, much like the design of your home, and you must love the block of land you choose. However, there are certain things that you need to be aware of; you will never be able to find the perfect block of land with all the attributes.
Here are some things that you need to consider when buying a block of land:
- Location and Amenities
To save travel time, its best to choose land that is close to shops, parks, schools, and other services. Preferably, you’d want these things within walking distance, but this is not always achievable. In addition, closeness to these services sometimes means being on or close to busy roads, which is a noise issue as well as a potential reselling issue.
- The Size of the Block
Before buying land, you need to research home designs to ensure that the design you want will fit. The amount of land you can actually build your house on can be reduced by height restrictions, building envelopes and setbacks.
In order to get a plan to fit on a block that might have restrictions, you will have to compromise on many aspects. While you will still get a stunning home, it is worth the effort to ensure you can get exactly what you want.
- The Orientation of the Block
The lands orientation is one of the most important factors as you typically want your living and outdoor entertainment spaces to face north. This provides good lighting and energy ratings and is very important.
- Impact of the Slope
A general rule is that it is cheaper to build on flat land. You can add thousands of dollars onto your budget if you choose a steep block of land due to the difficulty of building. These blocks are becoming available more due to the demand for land and subdivisions.
- Lighting
It is important to view your block of land at night – not only during the day. Constant light from street lamps is a major cause for annoyance in newly built homes. In addition, if your home faces a busy street or intersection, car lights will be filtering in through your windows through the night.
Buying a block of land to build a new home is an exciting first step, but it is important you thoroughly think through the decision to ensure your commitment is what you’re dreaming of.