What To Consider When Finding A Location For Your Custom Home

Location. Location. Location.

We’ve all heard this phrase before. When it comes to the home building process, choosing the right location is one of the most important steps. That’s why it’s so important to take your time when researching and selecting your future homesite!

On average, it takes almost an entire year to complete a custom home build. The last thing any new custom homeowner wants is the feeling of regret due to their choice of location. When investing that much time into a project, you want to ensure your home sits on a spot you can enjoy for years to come.

To help with the lot selection process, here are five questions you should ask yourself when exploring potential homesites:

What does the neighborhood look like?

If you’re looking to fill an empty lot in a residential neighborhood, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. One of the first things to examine is the neighborhood’s appearance. What does it look like? Is it surrounded by trees and quality landscaping? Is there a community pool? How big are the lot sizes? Neighborhoods with a quality appearance tend to be more desirable for homebuyers and builders.

Another way to assess desirably of the neighborhood is researching how long houses stay on the market. If there’s a fast turnover, you can assume other people think it’s a desirable place to live. However, do not feel pressured to bite because of a fast turnover rate; there are other questions to consider first.

How’s the surrounding area?

It’s important to remember to look past the neighborhood and assess the area around it. Sometimes the most perfect neighborhood can be nestled in a less-than-ideal area. Good neighborhoods should be close to amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, and hospitals.

If you have children, schools are another amenity to think about. Different neighborhoods fall into different school districts, so you want to ensure you’re setting your children up for success by placing them in a solid school district.

Don’t forget about safety, too. Your neighborhood should have low crime rates so you can enjoy the outdoors and socialize with those living around you. If the location of the neighborhood requires long drives that you’re not willing to take or doesn’t seem the safest, it might be best to reconsider and look for other options.

Are there any zoning regulations?

The last thing a custom homeowner wants to deal with during the homebuilding process is having their project tied up because of regulation problems. Before choosing a home location, research what regulations are in place. It’s possible for your area to have restrictions on height, landscaping and even building multiple structures; if this interferes with your vision, you’ll want to find a different location.

Does the lot work with your vision?

If you have an idea of what your custom home will physically look like, you need to be able to envision it sitting on the piece of land you’re considering. Does it fit the space well? Do you have room left for a spacious yard? How close will you be to a potential neighbor? Are there trees and bushes that will need to be cleared so the land is buildable? The last thing you want is to finish your custom home build and realize the lot you chose is too cramped, heavily wooded, too big or not appealing.

What about the elements?

It may seem silly, but you can’t forget about sun, wind and water. The sun can be your best friend or your enemy depending on how your home sits on your lot; in warmer locations, too much direct sun can make your home unbearably hot. In colder locations, not enough sun will limit the amount of natural light and warmth you receive during the year.

If there’s a large river or body of water nearby, do you have an increased potential for flooding? Mounds of leaves and debris, clumps of dead grass or landscaping that sits several inches above the ground aresigns of previous flooding. If the lot doesn’t sit higher up on a slope, it may not be an ideal spot.