Choosing a Vilas County Building Site

The building site for your new home is an important element in the new construction process. Without research and proper planning, it can majorly impact your construction budget, present unexpected problems, or leave you limited in your choices of new home design. Choosing the right property is essential to a successful building experience and your overall long term happiness with your home.  North Twin Builders recommends keeping the following 3 things in mind when choosing your Vilas County building site.

1.      When to Choose your Building Site

Obviously, you want to know when you need to make a decision about which property you will buy. Should this be done right away, before hiring a contractor or establishing construction financing. Opinions differ on the correct timing, with some suggesting the site should come first and some that the property should be the last decision in the building process.

The three components of your construction project (building site, construction budget, and contractor) should be treated as a tri-pod of decisions. One can’t succeed without all three. If you select your building site before establishing your budget, you may discover that you don’t have the funds needed to complete the home design you were hoping for. However, if you wait till after financing and your new home design are finalized, you may not be able to find an appropriate lot.

You should have a fairly good idea of your overall construction budget before making a decision on your property. And getting a qualified building contractor on board before selecting the building site can alert you to potential problems or added site preparation expenses. The most successful new construction projects consider all three elements simultaneously.

2.      Budgeting For Your Vilas County Building Site

Budget will naturally play a factor in selecting your building site. You should know how much land you can afford before falling in love with a lot that is beyond what you can afford. The cost of the land should be roughly 20% of your overall construction budget. And the actual sale price of the land won’t be the final expense of the building site.

Don’t forget site preparation expenses for your construction budget. This is where a contractor with experience in site planning will help you estimate the final cost of the land andrecognize potential complications. Cheaper lots may seem attractive, but usually end up being more expensive in the long run. In addition to the land sale price, you should consider:

• Is electricity, a well or public water available? If these don’t already exist on the site, they can be expensive to create.
• Land features can require extra preparation such as dealing with heavy clay soils, blasting rocks or clearing trees.
• Is the building site level? Hauling dirt in or out and grading will be an added expense.
• Road access will take additional time and funding to create; it’s more affordable to select a site that has access. And consider the type – you don’t want to have to tackle a steep driveway in a snowy Vilas County winter!
• Deed restrictions or zoning issues; problems can be a hassle and put you over budget

Your contractor can help you identify the necessary site preparations to determine if the added expenses meet your budget or if a different parcel would be better.

3.      Matching Your Home Design with Your Building Site

Not every design or style of home will work on every building site. You don’t want to complete the biggest investment of your life only to step back and realize that your home sticks out like a sore thumb. Choosing a building style that well suits the surrounding environment is important for aesthetics and for selecting appropriate building materials.

Choosing a custom home builder like North Twin Builders can make all the difference. Our experience with energy efficient practices and site planning are beneficial in determining what materials would work best for your building site and what preparations will need to be taken. By involving North Twin Builders early in the construction planning process, you can save yourself costly mistakes while guaranteeing a more comfortable and visually appealing home. Ready to get started with your Vilas County new home construction?

Contact North Twin Builders Today!