You’ve no doubt heard the phrase ‘site prep’ throughout our website and within the context of new home construction. But what exactly does it mean? And how does it apply to you? We’re here to answer these questions and more!

PREPPING YOUR SITE

Site Prep refers to all the necessary steps that need to be taken in order for a home to begin construction on any piece of property. 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.

Site Prep is a shorthand for ‘preparing your land for your home’. This will all be done for you, but learning about and being involved in the process will help you understand more about your own home, what to be prepared for in the future, and how and why to properly maintain your home.

Steps for Success

Step 1: Understanding the Land

There are a number of different resources we utilize to fully understand your land. We start with the Title Report from your land purchase. If you purchased the land through us then we will already have this. These pages clearly explain zoning, land use, and any CCR’s that accompany your land purchase.

Step 2: Walking the Lot

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 set-backs are simple measurements from property lines. Other times, we may be required to build within a specifically defined ‘building envelope’ determined by the developer. Either way, establishing where we 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. Do you 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. Obstacles need to be removed to give sub-contractors access to your lot because we’ll be responsible for creating a driveway and a clear-space for pouring a foundation.
• Drainage: Ground-water 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? You might need a dry-well, or a piped drainage system that ties into city sewer. Becoming aware of our responsibilities will help us prep the building site accordingly.

Step 3: Permits

First things, first. 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 we 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.

Step 4: Your Utilities

Utilities is the next most important thing to tackle. Besides permits, utilities take the longest on our to-do list to achieve. The first step is getting the excavator to trench from the power/water source to the site (or closer to the site). We then need an electrician and plumber to set the wiring and conduit (or piping for water). Next the county/city needs to come out and green tag it, which the electrician typically calls in. Finally, you have to call the power company to turn the power on. Additionally, the excavator has to come back out to cover the trenching.

You Can Do It!

While Site Prep sounds like a big process, it happens one small step at a time—so don’t worry! Working with your Project Manager is the best way to stay on track. They will understand your lot, your future home, and all the steps required in between. 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 custom home.