Today we are going to give you the questions that you need to ask when you are buying land to build a house.
L. Patten & Sons specializes in custom-built homes in Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area. We'd love to put our 60 plus years of experience in building custom homes to work for you to build you the home of your dreams!
We'll not only outline the important questions but we will also explain why they are essential to ask before you make your decision. So let's get started.
Buying land to build a house is a big decision - make sure you are fully informed
Buying Land to Build a House? Questions You Need to Ask
If you are buying land to build a house, there are a number of important aspects that you need to consider and questions you need to ask before you make your purchase. Here are the key things to look out for.
#1. Can You Find a Reputable Builder Willing to Travel to Your Site?
If you purchase a remote property, you will want to make sure that you can find a builder who is willing to travel to your location. You'll also need to find out if there will be additional charges for bringing all of your building materials to the site.
Make sure you builder is willing to travel to your location
#2. Is the Land Zoned for a Residential Build
Make sure you check the zoning designation before buying land to build a house. Zoning designation will dictate things such as:
The type of building you are allowed to construct on the land
The setbacks from the property lines
The maximum building height
The maximum coverage
You can learn more about zoning and building permits from the Ministry of Housing.
#3. How Far Are You from Local Amenities?
Think about how long it will take you to get to the closest grocery store or other shopping areas from your new home. Are you willing to drive the extra distance and use that extra time? You might want to change your shopping habits so that you are buying enough for a couple of weeks at a time.
Also, consider what you will do if you run out of staples like milk or bread. If there isn't a convenience store nearby, you may need to be extra careful when planning out how much food you need.
Figure out how far you are from the nearest shopping areas
#4. Is the Property Regulated by a Conservation Authority?
If the property that you are considering is regulated by a conservation authority, then you will need to get a permit from them before you build. However, this can be time-consuming and expensive. You may find that you will have extra costs such as:
Erosion control
Tree preservation
Floodwater protection
You can find more information about the conservation authorities in the Collingwood area here:
#5. What Does the Area Smell Like?
This may seem like an unusual question, however, it could be a deal-breaker. If you are buying land to build a house and it is close to a dump or farmland, you may not be happy with the unpleasant smells.
The smells could be a big deterrent, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time out in your yard.
If you aren’t a fan of farm smells, you may not want to build near one
#6. Where Is the Water Table?
Before buying land to build a house, you should find out all you can about the water table. If it is high, then you need to be prepared for having a wet basement which will require protection such as installing sump pumps.
If it is extremely high, you might want to forego a basement altogether. If a basement is really important to you then you need to take the feasibility of one into consideration.
#7. Will There be Public Water or Do You Need a Well and Septic System?
If the property that you are considering doesn't have access to public water and sewage, then you need to find out if you can dig a well (if there isn't one already there). Unfortunately, not all properties have water rights, so if this is the case, you won't be allowed to dig a well.
If you do have to dig a well, then you also need to know the depth of your water table and how rocky the ground is, to find out how difficult and expensive it will be.
You'll also need to get your water tested to make sure that it is safe to drink. You should also find out how much it will cost to put in a septic system and learn about how to maintain it.
When buying land to build a house, find out about the water table and if you can dig a well
#8. Is There Electricity?
If there are no electricity lines near the property, then it can be very expensive to bring them to your home.
#9. What Are Your Internet and Cable Options?
If you are buying land to build a house outside of the city, then you will want to find out what your options are for Internet and Cable. Your choices may be limited or non-existent.
It is particularly important to find this out before you buy, if you rely on Internet for your work. Find out what kinds of speeds you can expect.
For example, just because Bell Internet is available, that doesn't mean that you will be able to get their high-speed service. Given your location, they may only offer a much slower and less reliable option.
Check out what internet and cable options you have at your location
#10. Are There Any Easements or Restrictions?
If you need to access the property by driving over an adjoining parcel of land, you'll need to get an easement that allows you to legally cross that land.
Also find out who maintains the roads. If they are not maintained by the local municipality, you may have to contribute to the upkeep. Find out what the pro-rata cost for this would be.
#11. Who Are Your Neighbours?
It is a good idea to check out who or what your neighbours are going to be before buying land to build a house. Find out if they are residential, commercial or industrial.
Check to see if there is a quarry, railroad, or airport nearby that could cause a lot of unwanted noise. If the land surrounding the location is vacant, try to find out what it could possibly be used for in the future.
#12. Will I Be Able to Sell the Property in the Future?
If you choose a location that is more remote, then you may have a limited number of potential buyers. You need to understand that it may take you a longer time to sell than it would if your home was located in a city. However, that isn't always the case, if you have built a quality home, then that adds to its marketability.
If you build in a remote location it might take a bit longer to sell
Building a House? Get the Best Builder: L. Patten & Sons
If you are thinking of building the house of your dreams, contact L. Patten & Sons. L. Patten & Sons brings over 60 years of custom home building experience to every project we undertake. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
We make it our goal to help all our clients realize their dreams. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and complete customer satisfaction are what set L. Patten and Sons apart in the Collingwood and Blue Mountain custom home building community. Take a look for yourself at our gallery of some of the custom homes we have built.
Our home owners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come! Contact us today to get started on your dream home.
““My husband and I decided to work with Jerry specifically because he was a local builder and had been in business for many years. When we started building our dream home we realized what a huge project we were undertaking, however, the many decisions, frustrations and second-guessing almost drove us crazy. That’s when we understood how our decision to use Jerry had allowed us to keep our sanity! Jerry’s ever present smile, calm demeanor and professionalism was a bonus. His understanding of the process of building a home, his connections and experience has enabled us to build our beautiful home on budget and on time. The quality of work is something that, 2 years on, we still appreciate. As I’m sure we will for many more years to come. The many decisions that Jerry helped us with are also appreciated - almost daily. We sometimes laugh about things we thought were great ideas and then Jerry very politely and always with a smile steered us in the right direction. We truly feel lucky to have found Jerry and his crew and are proud to say that our home is a L. Patten and Sons home!” ”