Ryan and Brittany had been planning their dream home for years, poring over design magazines and plan books and talking about a built-in breakfast nook and walk-in closets. When they finally found the perfect property in Idaho to build their dream home on, they made an offer and bought the land on the spot. But when they went to the architect with their building plans, he wouldn’t make any promises until the couple called in a land planner to take a look at the property. When the land planner brought his results to the architect, they had the sad task of telling Ryan and Brittany that it would be impossible to build their dream home on the property they had just bought. They could still build a very nice home, thankfully, but the vision the couple had simply wouldn’t work on that particular piece of land.
When buying land for building a home, there’s a lot more to be considered besides location and acreage. Zoning regulations, property access, drainage, soil, natural lighting and more need to be assessed before you even begin putting together a blueprint for your dream home. What our couple, Ryan and Brittany, didn’t realize is that the land and the building to be constructed have to be the perfect match before construction begins. To help find that perfect match, you need a very special matchmaker: a land planner.
A land planner assesses a property in the same manner in which a home inspector inspects a home before a purchase. A land planner will identify pitfalls and potential construction problems before you purchase the property. This will not only ensure that you are able to build your dream home, but it will also help you determine the actual costs involved and plan your building budget more accurately. Below are just a few of the property factors a land planner will assess:
- Slope
- Wind
- Site utilities
- Property access
- Soil type
- Vegetation
- Water table
- Topography
- Natural light
- Wind
- Drainage
- Zoning laws and other regulations
There is a lot to be considered when assessing land for a new home, and property sites, particularly in Idaho, can vary greatly. It takes a highly skilled professional to assess all the property factors correctly and create the perfect plan for the land. The bottom line is, if you’re thinking of building a home in Idaho, you should also be thinking about land planning in Idaho.
If you don’t want to end up like Ryan and Brittany with a mismatched home and property, be smart and hire a professional land planner from the start. At Mason & Associates, we have nearly 30 years of experience in all stages of land planning in Idaho. From the initial survey to the final stages of planning, we’ll handle every step of the land planning process from start to finish. If you’d like to know more about our land planning services and how we can help you find the perfect property match for your dream home, contact us today!