Your custom home builder in NJ can help you select the perfect plot

August 7, 2019 Home building and Care
Custom home builder New Jersey, Toy home being placed on green grass

The first step of building the custom home of your dreams is the perfect plot of land.  When there are so many variables and things to consider, it can be an overwhelming process from day one.  Here we’ll give you some things to consider to help you choose the perfect space for your future home. Your custom home builder in NJ, like Monetti Custom Homes, can help you answer a lot of questions as well.

Location

Although this is an obvious item, there are many things to consider when selecting the location of your new custom home.  Do you want to be in a neighborhood?  If so, consider the pros and cons of where in the neighborhood you want to be.  There are corner lots, cul-de-sacs, and dead ends.  Take into account all of these when picking out your land.  Drive through the neighborhood at different times of the day so you can get a true picture of what your future life might look like there.  Is there a bus stop right in front of your house?  Is that convenient or a problem?  If you have kids or may have kids in the future, this may be a good thing.  If not, this could be a huge deterrent. 

Are you looking instead for a more rural setting for your custom home?  This opens you up a bit as far as location, but you may be giving up some other conveniences.  How long will your commute be?  Drive the route a few times and make sure it’s do-able long term.  Make sure you visit all possible locations so you get a true picture of what you are purchasing including the surrounding area.  Keep in mind that you want a place where your value isn’t going to be brought down by what’s around you.  Never buy land sight-unseen.  

Types of Land

What are you going to do with your land?  Will you be planting flower gardens? Growing your own food?  Or are you just looking for a good space to put your home.  Regardless of whether or not you plan to grow anything at all on your land, you still need to consider the different types of soil and how reactive that soil is going to be when you begin to build on it.  Certain types of soil may take a lot of preparation to make it suitable to build on.  Along with types of soil, look at the overall layout of the land.  Is it sloped?  Is it near wetlands?  Make sure you have a good idea of the topography of the land so you don’t run into problems later on down the line. 

Look into the history of the land and see what was there before.  If there was previously a farm, while you know it could be good for growing, it may also be contaminated with pesticides.  Knowing the history of the plot can help you avoid future issues.  When you are building a custom home, there will be enough work to deal with and if you can avoid extra time, costs, and preparation at the start, you’ll be better off in the end. 

Zoning and Accessibility

Just because you fall in love with a piece of land, doesn’t mean you can build your home on it.  Make sure you involve a real estate agent who has a history with the buying and selling of land, surveyors who can accurately map out the area for you, and the local government so you know exactly what you can and can’t do with the property.  You need to know if your property is around an easement and what the property is zoned for and if it may be possible to have it re-zoned if necessary. 

Another big consideration is utilities.  How easy is it going to be to get electricity and water to your future home if it is not already established?  This can be a large cost factor that may rule out certain plots of land.  Not only do you need to think about what you need to bring onto the property, but how that is all going to be possible.  Make sure you buy land that will be accessible to all the machines and equipment necessary to build a custom home. 

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what to consider when purchasing land.  Ultimately, the decision comes down to what you absolutely must-have, and what you may be able to live without. 

Go over everything with your custom home builder in NJ

Keep an open mind, make a list of what you really need, discuss the decision with everyone who will be living there, and have fun with the first step of building your custom home! Call Monetti Custom Homes to get started today!