What to Look For When Buying Land to Build On

Ryan Hanson

Designing and building a new home is often stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s where Ryan comes in, who is the Partner and Co-owner of S9. Ryan manges the day-to-day operations of the build, and ensures that our clients are satisfied through regular updates and budget reviews. At S9, the client always comes first and Ryan makes sure that they are involved in the building process and aware of how the project is going at all times.

You’ve heard it before; when it comes to the value of your home, it’s all about location, location, location. But being next to your favorite patch of woods or a beautiful lake doesn’t mean that that spot is the perfect place for your new home. There are a multitude of other factors to consider when looking to buy land to build on, and in this post, we’re going to give you the rundown.

Table of Contents

Location

Yes, location does matter — a lot in fact. When you’re building a new home from scratch, you should have the mindset that the house you build will be your forever home. Or at least your home until you move to the tropics after retirement.

So, consider where you are in relation to restaurants, biking trails, coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, and other spots where you find yourself spending a lot of time. Many new home builders want to keep sustainability in mind, and so making sure that they are within walking, biking, or short driving distances to their favorite stores and restaurants is a top priority.

Unique Features

Going along with the location of the land, many home builders look for a unique, distinctive feature to separate it from other homes. For example, a body of water such as a creek or lake, or a private wooded area are two features that many modern home builders seek out.

Finding that unique feature will make your new home all the more special.

Soil

It’s important that you undergo a soil test before starting to build on a plot of land. This is to make sure that the land is safe enough to build on and to see if there are any soil constraints, like peat. Peat, also known as turf, is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It’s essential that you make sure that you have a solid enough foundation for a building.

Keep in mind that even if you do find that your plot of land is located on top of peat, then you can still build there. However, it will require a more technical and expensive base for your home to ensure that it doesn’t sink into the ground. This is a good tidbit to understand, especially if you have the perfect plot of land for your home but the soil isn’t great.

Landscape

Similar to the quality of the soil, you can still build a home even if the landscape conditions aren’t perfect. Once again, it will cost you extra funds to make it work. A good example of this is when someone wants to build their home on a hill. The benefits to building on a slant are that you can have some great modern designs with spectacular views, but it is much more difficult to build on this type of landscape, and there are specific challenges that you will encounter every time. It can certainly be done, but it may take longer, and you may run into more setbacks compared to building on flat land.

Overall, Be Picky

As previously mentioned, this new home should be your forever home. So, when it comes to looking for the right location, don’t be afraid to be a little picky. If you don’t absolutely love the location and characteristics of the land, then odds are you won’t completely love your home either. Deciding where to build your home is a big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

At Sustainable 9, we can help you find the perfect plot of land for your new living space. We know a thing or two about what makes a home special, and one of those details is the location of the home. Ultimately, the decision is your own, but we will be with you every step of the way to collaborate not just on the location of your home, but every small detail that will make your house special.

If you’re looking to build a new, modern, and sustainable home that will last a lifetime, give us a call at (612) 540-0871 or send us a message to let us know how we can help you get started on crafting the perfect home for you.