How to Choose Land to Build a House?

When we purchase a property, we are not only investing in the land to build a house, but we are also investing time and money, which is why it is important to consider all aspects involved in the search and purchase.

The land is the foundation of our home, the place where we spend most of our time and where we live with our family. Therefore, it can be very useful, before beginning to search for land, to create a list with ideas and personal requirements for your ideal land and house.

If your search will be guided by a professional, the list will help provide a clear understanding of the specific things you desire for your new home. If you decide to search at your own pace without anyone’s help, then we recommend you continue reading to learn about the main aspects you will need to address before making the purchase decision:

7 Factors to Consider Before Choosing Land to Build a House

1. Infrastructure

Ensure that necessary services such as electricity, telephone lines, street lighting, running/potable water, sewers, natural gas, etc. are already installed.

2. Location

It is important to assess the connection to main roads/streets and the general safety of the neighborhood. If the land is far from the city, consider the time you will need to access services such as hospitals, pharmacies, schools, recreational areas, shops, and libraries.

Keep in mind that good land is one that is close to or well connected with the urban center, if the intention is to sell it in the future, and even if there is no intention to sell, it is important to consider the increase in land value in the future.

3. Orientation

We must consider the sun. A recommendation would be to visit the site at least three times a day during different months of the year to assess the sun’s path. This will help us determine possible orientations for the house and their viability in case of carrying out a project. The direction and intensity of winds is also important depending on the climate of the location.

It is necessary to keep in mind that, in general, bedrooms will be located facing north and that the direction of winds will help cool these rooms by entering through the bedroom windows.

4. Topography/Geotechnical Study

We can commission a professional geotechnical study to understand the characteristics of the land. This is necessary because only in this way can we know if the land meets the necessary requirements to build on it.

The study will provide us with precise information about the composition of the soil (the consistency of the soil, whether low, medium, or hard), the excavation method, the soil’s capacity to support the weight of the house, the safety factors that must be adopted during project execution, and more.

5. Value

To determine if the value of the land you have chosen to build a house is appropriate, it will be necessary to find out how much a square meter costs in land located near it. Generally, land is valued according to the following criteria: its shape and regularity, its topography (flat land is generally more expensive), its size, its accessibility to main transportation routes, connection to public services, and available space for housing construction in relation to the land.

6. Flooding

The possibility of flooding is often one of the least considered characteristics and one of the most important at the construction level. It is important to verify that the land is not located in a low-lying and flood-prone area and that it has a relatively high elevation to prevent flooding of the plot. In the case of flood-prone land, it will be important to ensure that the house can be elevated in relation to the flood level.

7. Leveling

If the land is not flat, we will have more usable space and consequently, it will be more expensive. Uneven land of the same size will cost less but the price will increase in excavation and earthworks.