You have found the perfect land to build your dream log home in a secluded valley next to a trout stream. You’re daydreaming about having coffee on the porch in the mornings and getting cozy in front of the fire in the evenings. But how do you get from here to there? What are the next steps?
What’s Next?
Now is the time to do some investigating to ensure the lot is suitable to build on in terms of the slope, soil conditions, accessibility, and zoning to name a few issues. Some lots are never acceptable to build on but that may not be obvious unless further investigation is done.
Some physical features of the land can cost a lot to fix before becoming an idyllic building site. The land you have fallen in love with may end up costing you six figures if local building codes require a bridge to be built across that trout stream to accommodate first responder vehicles if there is an emergency.
Utility Requirements
An important consideration is how to get utilities to the parcel and how much expense is involved to do so, especially if the land is in a remote location. You need to learn how much power is necessary for your house and how to take care of water and waste, since these items can bust your budget.
Before you sign on the dotted line you should get information about:
- Water—accessibility from either the local municipality or from a well (depth necessary to drill to obtain water)
- Waste management—either septic or sewer (and percolation tests necessary to determine how easily land will accept waste water from a septic tank)
- Power—from the utility provider (and any additional fees to bring in utility lines)
- Gas—from the utility company or from a propane tank
- Phone and internet services
Regional Considerations
Some areas of the country such as the Rocky Mountain regions have expansive soils that can create major problems for a home’s foundation system, causing basements to buckle and major structural failure. Other areas of the country along the East Coast may bring problems with limestone deposits which over time can be eroded by water which leaves a cavern or sinkhole. A qualified engineer can help you decide if your site has any potential problems or issues with limestone deposits.
Other Issues
You should consider whether your building site is near a flood plain or wetlands which may result in building restrictions. Also, road access may be a surprisingly complex issue to deal with, especially if the parcel is landlocked and needs a private road to be built for access through a neighbor’s land.
Take the time to make sure the land parcel is the best location to build your new log home. Gastineau Log Homes has over 40 years of experience helping people realize their dream of building a log home. Contact us today and let’s explore your affordable log home dream together.
