The phrase ‘site evaluation’ comes up a lot in new home construction. But what does it really mean? And how does it apply to you?

Good questions. 

Site Evaluation is what we do when we look at your property and how your new home might be located on the land best.

UNDERSTANDING ‘SITE EVALUATION’

Every jurisdiction will have varying rules and regulations regarding zoning rules (what you can build and where you can build it)—but there are some very common site considerations that must be addressed on every lot, regardless of location. Having a good understanding of your own land begins with a Title Report from a Title Company—if you’ve just purchased your land, this was included in your closing documents. These pages will clearly explain zoning, land use, and any CCR’s that accompany your land purchase.

The ladies and gentlemen of the cities Building Department are especially helpful. They can provide us with guidelines for your future construction project which is a great first step and terrifically helpful for planning purposes.

We’ll Walk Your Lot With An Expert

Did you know that Harris Home Builders offers a free site evaluation with a Project Manager? We’ll walk the lot with you and explore the possibilities. What are we going to be looking at?

• Set-Backs and Building Envelopes: every property will have a unique set of rules about how far from the property line you are allowed to build. Sometimes these setbacks are simple measurements from property lines. Other times, you may be required to build within a specifically defined ‘building envelope’ determined by the developer. Either way, establishing where you can build the home is essential.
• Slope and View: Building on the side of a hill may render the best views—but your access to the property may increase the overall cost of the build. Likewise, hillside lots require much more complicated foundations—both in engineering and material use. These factors will increase the cost of your home build. Knowing this up-front can help you stay on budget.
• Clearing: Does your building site have trees on it? These will have to be cleared. Will we require permission to remove these trees? What about large rocks, or other natural obstacles? Identifying what needs to move and how it will move is part of the site prep process. It’s vital for us to understand how we’ll remove obstacles to give contractors access to your lot because we’ll be responsible for creating a driveway and a clear space for pouring a foundation.
• Drainage: Groundwater and erosion will be something to address no matter where you are building a home. Every jurisdiction has a different set of requirements as to run-off. Must it be kept on your property? We might need a dry-well or a piped drainage system that ties into the city sewer. Becoming aware of our responsibilities will help us prep the building site accordingly.
  

What Comes Next…

After your site evaluation, we’ll need permission from the local government to build a home on your property. Be aware: there is no ‘one’ permit for building. There are many permits, one for each step of the building process. After you receive a permit to do a portion of your construction build, an inspector will come and ensure that the work completed is done correctly, and to code. Then, we’ll have the go-ahead to get the next permit, and so on, until a Final Inspection is completed at the end of your build.

Let There Be Light! Your Utilities

Let’s tackle utilities next. Power and water will need to come to your home site. Harris Home Builders has great relationships with excavators, well drillers, septic installers, and others that can help provide written bids. We’ll take care of all this behind the scenes for you.

First Steps Are The Best Steps 

Your Site Evaluation will help prepare your home construction project for success. Do you have any questions? Your Designer and Project Manager are your best resource. They will understand your lot, your future home, and all the steps required to go from dreams to reality. The most important thing to remember is this:

Ask Questions.

Our lines are open and we can’t wait to talk to you about your future forever home.