Scoping Out Land? What You Need to Know

Many of our customers come to us after they have purchased a piece of ground. And for most, the process is simple, affordable and easy. However, for an occasional few who don’t do all their homework before purchasing their own piece of land, some of the aggravation and expense could have been easily avoided through some simple homework.

Since a quarter of our owners of PA new homes chose to build on their own piece of ground, we thought we’d offer up a few tips to consider before you go ahead and sign on the dotted line for your own piece of heaven.

• What are the setbacks? This seemingly basic piece of information will dictate the size of the home you build and the amount of asphalt  you may encounter. Hint:  More asphalt means more expense!
• What is the land’s zoning classification? Wow…nothing could be worse than buying a piece of ground and finding out later it wasn’t zoned for residential use, or that there were significant limitations to the type of building allowed to be erected. Additionally, if you plan to use any piece of your home for commercial use, better to ask the question up front.
• Walk the Lot. Ok, this seems obvious, but for those desperate to escape the city hustle and bustle it may be tempting to pick up a huge tract a land for a discount and consider the repercussions later. Resist the temptation – do your homework about the surrounding area and more importantly, visit the land in person!
• Consider Utilities. We’re talking about water, gas lines, electric and everything else you need to function in your home. If the nearest gas lines are 2 miles away, be prepared for propane or electric. If water is not available, factor in the expense for a septic system.

Of course, there is one easy way to avoid many of the possible pitfalls without doing too much work! Find a PA builder that will partner with you and advise you PRIOR to purchasing a piece of ground. For more than 30 years, we have helped Pennsylvanians and West Virginians build on their own land and we are here to lend our expertise. An on-site consultation never costs you money and doesn’t obligate you to purchase. And with more than 60 innovative plans to choose from, what’s stopping you from calling?

For more information on what to consider when choosing a builder to partner with, please visit the S&A Homes website.

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