April 5, 2016
Making Yourself at Home – Choosing Your Lot
You’ve found the ideal town – an easy commute to work, with great schools, close to shopping and all of your favorite places.
Now comes the tricky part…choosing your lot.
How do you know which available parcel is best for you? Here’s some points to consider before you commit to a specific lot in a specific community and sign your name on the dotted line.
Location
Lots at the front of a development will have higher traffic noise, but have a positive trade-off in easier access when you’re going in and out of the community. A lot in a cul-de-sac will offer increased safety for families with small children, but the wedge-shaped lots may mean that your house will be set more toward the rear of the lot, with a longer driveway and shorter back yard. This could be an issue if you were planning on installing a pool or creating a child’s play area in your yard.
While corner lots are normally larger than others in the community, they will have the disadvantage of having traffic along two sides. The larger lot also means you’ll need to spend more time and money on landscaping and maintaining your home’s curb appeal.
A lot on a T-shaped intersection is usually one of the least expensive in the community, but the down side is that there may be issues with night-time lighting. Street lights and lights from oncoming traffic can make sleep difficult. You’ll need to make sure that the design of the home you choose can be adapted to shifting light patterns.
Size
Make sure the floor plan you prefer will fit comfortably in the lot you choose. Your “buildable” area may be limited by easements, so be sure to ask your homebuilder how many there are and where they are located. Usually an easement will be on one side of the lot, but this isn’t always the case.
Try Before You Buy
If at all possible, don’t commit to a lot before seeing it in person. While the extra trip to the community may seem like a hassle, you’ll need to see what the views will be from your lot. You’ll also need to be prepared; it’s best to know in advance if you must cope with a sloped terrain or difficult soil conditions. You’ll also want to see what any existing homes around it look like, and what types of people are living in the community. Do you like what you see? Will you fit in? If you’re a young family with children and the neighbors are mostly retirees, you may want to look for another building site that better suits your lifestyle.
Here Comes the Sun
You’ll want to choose a lot that will give you the type of light exposure that you prefer. If you want to plant a vegetable garden, you’ll want to find a lot that receives maximum rays to the back yard. For lavish plants in the front, make sure you’ll have adequate sun on that lawn during the day. If you’re a night owl, avoid a lot that will force you to have your bedroom windows facing east. The morning sun will have you up way too early for your taste! A western or southern exposure will capture the afternoon sun, which can make outdoor patios or decks uncomfortably hot during the time of day you’ll be most likely to use them to relax.
Ask Yourself - How Full is the Community?
You don’t want to have to settle for the last lot left…or be the first buyer. You may end up with a space that doesn’t work for you, or you may feel a bit like Tom Hanks in ‘Cast Away’…trapped on an “island” all alone with nobody to talk to. While you want the community to sell up to its expectations, having some choice when it comes to where you’re building your home is critical. Aim for a happy medium.
For more information on the available lots in our award-winning communities, reach out to the Sales Team at Ernest Signature Custom Homes. We’ve got a lot of great options waiting for you!
