When you sign an official contract to buy a land on which you intend to build your new house, it is worth thinking first about all the consequences of your acquisition. As this space means a cost, the buyer should carefully think before taking its final decision. Indeed, long before starting digging the foundations of the house, other costs might substantially add to the total expenses.
Carefully analyse the space of implantation
To begin, even before falling for a land that seems to answer all your needs, take information about local town planning rules. They can imply really heavy constraints, and therefore unpleasant surprises, regarding construction works and design.
Besides, we recommend you to get acquainted with the neighbourhood. Indeed, even if at that point it is still rather difficult to project yourself in the place, you will live here; so logically enough, you have to feel comfortable and to make sure that all the transports you need as well as all the useful daily commodities are available.
Know the nature of the soil
According to the soil composition (clayey, calcareous, very humid, backfilled, etc.) it might be necessary to build specific foundations, which can obviously push up your budget dedicated to construction. For instance, some plant species must specifically draw your attention, like if there are willows, you know you are in a humid environment.
“According to the soil composition (clayey, calcareous, very humid, backfilled, etc.) it might be necessary to build specific foundations.”
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In case of doubt, you can request a field study, which will be performed by a surveyor. This study will help you identify all the risks and know the precautions to take in order to build a sustainable building.
Reconnected or connected your land?
According to the case, you can buy a land that is already connected to all the basic facilities: water, electricity, gas and sewerage. The initial investment will be higher, but the “concrete” works will begin earlier.
In more isolated areas, you can also find lands that are not connected to any of these networks. In that case, connections will need to be anticipated, because their costs vary a lot according to the complexity of the space and to various other potential constraints.
“Connections will need to be anticipated, because their costs vary a lot according to the complexity of the space and to various other potential constraints”
Besides these essential services, you will also need to anticipate the internet connection: today, for instance, a lot of people put the access to a fibre connection as a selection criterion… Yet, it is not possible everywhere.
Anticipate the various possible orientations
It is not too early, when you buy your building plot, to request the expertise of an architect. In order to live in a modern passive house, where you feel good and comfy, you will certainly want to maximise natural light.
To this purpose, even before buying the land, you need to anticipate the possible orientation of the house, to draw the first sketches and to make sure they are possible. For instance, it might be advisable to cut some trees to let the sun come in, but for that, you need to know if the concerned trees are on your land and if you are allowed to chop them down.
As you have probably understood, buying a land is something you cannot improvise. If you are asking yourself a lot of questions about this key step, ask the advice of building professionals to avoid any mistake.
