Before you even break ground on new construction, a lot of work goes into it. There is a lot of planning and consideration that goes into your home, whether you are drafting custom plans with an architect or having a semi-custom home built in a newly planned sub-division.
Something else is equally important as the details of the house itself. That is the kind of lot you want to build on. If you have a large plot of land in the country, the placement of the house and the operation of the utilities will be your primary concerns.
If you are building a house in a more populated area where smaller parcels of land are for sale, in a new subdivision, or in an established subdivision that is expanding, you must first decide what type of lot you want.
Different Types of Building Lots
Lot on the Corner
This lot is frequently mentioned when describing a dream home. “A lovely home on a corner lot.” The corner lot is at the crossroads of two streets.
This type of lot isn’t ideal if privacy is important, but it does provide you with not only a front and backyard but also an easily accessible and often quite usable side yard. Because you are perched on a corner, there is no house directly next to you blocking the light, which can make your house feel brighter.
Cul-De-Sac
This is yet another highly desirable building lot style. This style of a lot is much more private, as it is located at the top of a rounded street with a turnaround.
Due to the limited traffic, this lot will have much more privacy because the house is at the end of a turnaround rather than through the street. To compensate for the smaller front yard, the backyard is usually larger.
Key Lot
This is the second lot after a corner lot. It has two neighbors on each side, as well as one in the back. This lot is not ideal if you want privacy, and the light will be blocked because of the houses on either side. These lots are typically less expensive.
Lot at T-intersection
Because of the amount of traffic on the roads and headlights shining into house windows at night, this lot may be less than desirable. This may not be as troublesome as it appears if the house is in a quiet subdivision.
Lot in the interior
This is similar to a key lot, as it is surrounded on all sides by neighbors. This is the most common type of lot to come across. These lots typically have a decent-sized backyard but, like other lots bordered by neighbors, lack privacy.
Lot of Flags
How to Select a Lot
*Consider the lot’s slope.
Will you have to mow an inclined lawn, and does the backyard have a steep drop-off that might not be safe if you have small children?
*How does the view look?
Do you have a view you’d like to see every time you leave your house, or will you be forced to look at something unappealing, such as a gas station or a warehouse?
*How much privacy will you have once other houses are built?
Is it possible to create more privacy that will be permitted by codes or the homeowners association?
*What size are the lots?
Examine the already-constructed houses in the subdivision. Are the houses so close to each other that they almost touch? Some people may not mind, but for others, it may be a deal breaker.
*Which way is the lot facing?
The amount of light in your home will be affected by the direction it faces. The best views are from the south. If everything else about the house is perfect, you must decide whether the direction is a deal breaker.
Consider what you want to do with your yard.
Do you want to build a pool in the future, or do you prefer to have space for sports or backyard games? Then you must have a flat lot.
*What length do you want your driveway to be?
If you don’t want to shovel, a flag lot might be the way to go.
*Are you willing to pay a higher price for a better lot?
Desirable lots are expensive. Are you willing to spend more money on the lot and make some compromises in the house’s design or finishes in order to get a perfect lot, or are you more concerned with the inside of the house?
*Determine the setback requirements.
These will have an impact on the amount of usable space in your yard.
*Examine the drainage on the lots.
If you want a basement, this will influence whether the house must be built on a slab and whether the basement will have flooding issues that will necessitate an expensive fix.
*How crowded is the subdivision in which you want to build?
A subdivision that is nearing completion will have fewer or no desirable lots available. If you have your heart set on living in this neighbourhood, this may not be an issue.
If you’re looking for a very specific type of lot, you might have to keep looking. If you’re spending a lot of money to build a house, don’t settle for a lot you’re not excited about.