Before you even start working with an architect or designer to create the plans for your dream home, you have to find a place to put it. Just as with the search for the perfect pre-existing home can take weeks or months, so can the search for the perfect lot for your custom home. As Realtors like to say the three most important things when shopping for a new home (or the land on which it will reside) are location, location, and location. But location isn’t the only thing to consider when deciding where you want to build your forever home.
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Location
Location is a big part of many homebuyers’ decision. It impacts a lot of areas of your life! The lot you choose and consequently its location will help dictate your lifestyle, access to conveniences, and the appreciation value of the property. Take the time to research and visit locations to find the one that’s just right for you. Do you long for the quiet, slow pace of secluded country living? Do you want to step out onto your deck and take in the picturesque sand and water of a lake or the ocean? Or do you want to step outside and be just blocks from the city center and all its vibrant activity?
Other things to think about when considering location include:
– Convenience & Accessibility. A lot’s proximity to grocery stores, dining, medical facilities, and commute times to the office can all impact daily life.
– School Districts. This is an important consideration whether you have or plan to have children or not. Homes located in top-rated school zones often retain higher property values than those that don’t.
Lot Layout
The layout of a lot is just as important as its location, since layout significantly influences design and construction. Even terrain is typically easier to build on, allowing for multiple design options and lower construction costs. On the other hand, a sloped plot comes with other challenges and considerations.
No matter what kind of lot you have, you need to consider drainage, soil condition, and surrounding natural features like bodies of water or trees. The staff at Acipe Design can help you evaluate lots and offer advice on how to optimize that layout to create the home and property of your dreams.
Utilities
Rural areas feature large properties, some with multiple acres, and a peaceful setting void of the blast of car horns and hustle and bustle of city centers. The trade off, however, is usually a lack of city-provided utilities. Well water and septic are typical sources, and if the vacant lot you plan to build on doesn’t have such services yet, you’ll have to pay for them, adding a significant cost to your bottom line.
Additionally, utilities like phone or cell service, cable or satellite, and Internet connectivity can be difficult to run or have rocky reception. If any of these are a necessity for your daily life – like internet access for people who run a business and need frequent access – such lots may not be what you’re looking for.
HOAs or Neighborhood Organizations
I personally am not a fan of HOAs, but I’ll spare you the stories and reasons. HOAs are the governing bodies that create and enforce rules and regulations (known as CC&Rs) within a residential community. Their purpose it to maintain a standard of living and maintain property values. Unfortunately, they can be limiting when it comes to designing your dream home. HOAs often have rules regarding the design style, color, type of exterior finishes used, landscaping limitations, and items as specific as the type of mailbox you can use. If these things don’t align with your vision or preferences, you may want to consider another lot in a different neighborhood.
When looking for your lot, make sure to ask current residents about how the HOA works, what they cover, and how lenient they are when it comes to giving homeowners the time to make repairs or corrections before fines are imposed. If you see a lot of FOR SALE signs in an HOA-governed neighborhood, make sure to ask questions.
Privacy & Noise Levels
You new custom home in a cozy, quiet, lakeside village likely won’t have many issues with privacy or noise. It’s typically limited to the people who live there and they want a quiet and private place just as much as you do. Can you build a privacy fence, or does the neighborhood not allow it? Are there quiet hours? If your value quiet and privacy, make sure you can get it.
You could also come across the “perfect” lot, but it’s close to the highway, another busy thoroughfare, or you find that non-residents often use its main road as a shortcut. Another lot could be close to the neighborhood school – but will the blast of the school bell throughout the day disturb your routine too much?
Other Developments
While the building of your new home is a disturbance to the surrounding area, once your home is built and you’re living your daily life, the distraction and disturbance is gone. Once your home and the others in the neighborhood are done, will that be the end of development, or is there more to come in areas close by?
Research the area and what is going on now and in the future. Understanding the potential for growth and development around your new home is critical in making the best final decision. Learn about commercial development, other residential developments, road or highway projects, and other potential disturbances.
Building Considerations
You’ve chosen a lot and are ready to start making your dreams come true. We at Acipe Design can help you build exactly what you want, the way you want it. There are several things to consider, however, when it comes to making the most of your lot.
Sunlight Orientation
Sunlight is an important factor when building any kind of building, but especially a home. But large windows and glass doors that let in natural light and all its benefits aren’t enough.We consider the orientation of your home on your lot to maximize natural light – lowering your heating, cooling, and artificial lighting costs over time and contributing to a cleaner, greener environment around your home.
If your home has southern exposure, you’ll receive maximum benefits throughout the day. When helping you design your home, we’ll discuss an orientation to take advantage of natural light and all its benefits.
Home Layout & Features
Lot orientation influences not just the indoor layout of your home, but also the outdoor features you can include. A backyard that faces the sun’s path makes for a warm, light-filled patio and play area. A shaded front yard offers a cool, welcoming entrance for you and your guests.
Orientation can also influence what you can include outside. The staff at Acipe Design can help you design an outdoor space that meets your needs and complements your custom home’s orientation to enhance all living spaces and create the lifestyle you want.
Futureproof Your Home
If you’re building a custom home, you’re likely looking to live in it for many years to come. When selecting the lot for your home, consider your long-term plans. Are you planning to expand your family? Consider a lot that will allow you to build a home with room for a home office, multiple bedrooms, and a play space for the kids. Choose a lot with enough room to build your dream home and have room to play and run around, with room for play equipment and other child-friendly features. Is this where you plan to retire? You may want a lot in a quiet neighborhood and room to build a single-story home to minimize stairs and other obstacles.
When you consult with the staff at Acipe Design, we’ll review your short-term and long-term plans and design a home that will serve your needs and wants now and your changing life and future.
Resale Value
We know you’re not building your dream home with selling it in mind. But just as you should look ahead to the future and your potential needs and wants in the years to come, you want to consider the home’s resale value. You want to maximize your home’s value while you reside there, but also keep it a secure and valuable asset when it is time to sell.
We’re not saying don’t personalize and customize to your taste and preferences, but considering lot size, location (including proximity to amenities), and future developments have a significant impact on home value. Additionally, you may think your master bathroom only needs one sink (because it’s just you living there after all), but you potentially limit your sales as many homebuyers expect double sinks in the master suite.
Final Thoughts
There are many considerations when choosing the perfect location for your custom home, and these are just some of them! The staff at Acipe Design can help you navigate lot selection as well as design the perfect home for your perfect lot.
Contact us today!