Building a new home is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when you are starting from scratch. Before choosing finishes, drawing floor plans, or thinking about cabinets and countertops, there is one important question to answer:
Can the home you want actually be built on the property you have in mind?
For most homeowners, the first step in building a house should be talking with an
experienced contractor and evaluating the property for feasibility, site conditions, access, utilities, permitting, and overall construction planning.
Whether you already own land or are still searching for the right lot, involving a contractor early can save time, money, and plenty of headaches later.
If You Already Own Land, Start With a Site Evaluation
If you already own the property where you want to build, one of your first calls should be to a contractor who understands new construction and site development.
Every piece of land is different. A lot that looks relatively simple from the road may have challenges that are not immediately obvious.
A contractor can look at factors such as:
- Access for construction equipment
- Slope and grading requirements
- Drainage
- Soil and site conditions
- Available utilities
- Septic or sewer requirements
- Water access
- Electrical service
- Excavation requirements
- Potential building locations
- Local setbacks and permitting considerations
This early evaluation helps determine what may be involved before the design process gets too far along.
For example, you may have a beautiful location picked out for the house, only to discover that significant excavation, retaining walls, utility extensions, or drainage work would be required to build there.
That does not necessarily mean the project cannot be done. It simply means those conditions should be understood before plans and budgets are finalized.
What If You Don't Own Land Yet?
If you are still looking for land, the first step is essentially the same:
talk to a contractor early.
In fact, having a contractor look at a property before you purchase it can sometimes be even more valuable.
Not all building lots are created equal. Two similarly priced pieces of land may have dramatically different development costs.
One property may already have relatively easy road access, nearby utilities, and a straightforward building area. Another may require extensive excavation, a long driveway, utility trenching, septic installation, or additional engineering.
Those costs can add up quickly.
Bringing a contractor into the process before purchasing land can help you better understand what you are actually buying.
It can also help prevent the frustrating situation of purchasing your dream property and then discovering that preparing it for construction is considerably more complicated than expected.
Don't Start With the House Plan Alone
It is tempting to start the home-building process by finding the perfect floor plan. There is nothing wrong with gathering ideas early, but the property and the home need to work together.
The terrain, orientation of the lot, driveway location, views, drainage, utilities, and access can all influence how a home should be positioned and designed.
A house plan that works perfectly on one property may require major modifications on another.
By evaluating the site first, your contractor, designer, architect, or engineer can make better decisions about how the home should fit the property instead of trying to force a predetermined plan onto a difficult site.
Establish a Realistic Project Scope
Another major benefit of involving a contractor early is developing a realistic understanding of the overall project.
The cost of building a house includes much more than the structure itself.
Depending on the property, the project may also involve:
- Clearing
- Excavation
- Grading
- Driveways
- Utility installation
- Septic systems
- Concrete work
- Drainage improvements
- Permits
- Engineering
- Site preparation
Understanding these items early makes it easier to create a realistic budget and decide where your money is best spent.
Planning Early Can Make the Entire Build Easier
There are many steps involved in building a home, but the earliest decisions often have the biggest impact on everything that follows.
Whether you already own property or are still shopping for land, starting with an experienced contractor gives you a clearer picture of what is possible, what challenges may exist, and what needs to happen next.
At
SPE Systems, we work with homeowners throughout the construction process, including excavation, site preparation, utilities, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and general construction.
If you're considering building a home in Northern Arizona, getting the property evaluated early can help you start the project with a much better understanding of the road ahead.
