The ultimate appeal of any property is that it is unique. From the design of the house itself, to the size, shape and topography of the lot upon which it rests, no two homes are the same.
And while in urban lots tend to be more similar, we find the opposite to be true in the Bay region.
Know Your Lot
So if you are considering building, spend at least as much time selecting the lot as you do with the layout of the home. Plans can be modified, but the lot you choose will be there forever.
Here are a few things to think about:
- If it is oddly shaped and you are forced to move to one side, then you may want to use fewer windows on that corner.
- If the home backs to a spectacular view, find a plan that will incorporate the view into your daily living experience.
- If no dwelling has ever been built on the lot, you will have to accommodate where the well and septic systems will be located.
- If the lot has a difficult slope or other feature, see if you can incorporate it into the home’s design (walk out basements or storage are usually a good solution for a sloped lot).
- If a neighbor’s home is closer to the side of their lot, you may want to create some distance to maintain privacy.
Take some time scoping out the lot you’re considering and analyze what characteristics make it unique. If there are any features you find to be unfavorable, talk with your Realtor about ways they can be minimized. Likewise, if there is a particularly great feature (like an awesome Bay view) this can be highlighted. And having been in this business for a long time, most of the agents at Bay Properties have seen their fair share of lots and homes that are not in sync with one another.
Being aware of how a lot will relate to a home can really create value.
Know Your Region – Private Roads and Easements
Private lanes and driveways are much more common in the Bay region, meaning you will find fewer paved roads that lead through a neighborhood and directly to a lot. Private roads are typically handled by Road Maintenance Agreements or other documents. Make sure to get a copy before buying to understand how the road is maintained.
Furthermore, if the specific property you are considering is landlocked, it will be important that you obtain the proper easements. Otherwise, you could be committing a civil trespassing offense whenever you enter or leave the property.
Each home can only be built once, so invest some time in really thinking through how the home, lot and other elements all relate.
