Anyone who has ever worked on a project knows that it is usually mostly planning and only a small percentage of actually doing, particularly when working on something that you cannot edit after the fact. A house is not just a house; it’s a home, a preservation of wealth, and a gift to pass on to future generations, if possible.
A house is one of the most significant investments you can make, especially when you build it custom. Building a home is a complex, detailed process that requires a great understanding to achieve successfully, and one of these parts is land development. Today, we’re going to take a glimpse at the components of residential land development. If you have any questions, Ameri-Star Homes in Glen Burnie, MD, is happy to answer them.
Assess the Land Before You Buy
The first step is to assess the land you’re interested in building on is indeed buildable, has road access or an easement, and is in an ideal area for you. Assess the environmental risks, such as floods, wildfires, poor air quality, and strong winds. Know what utility hookups are on site or which ones need installing.
Gather Your Team
If you are building your home yourself, you will need to acquire your home building team members early on:
- Real estate attorney
- Insurance agent
- Mortgage lender
- Land surveyor
- Civil engineer
- Geotechnical engineer
- House designer or architect
- Home builder
If you work with a custom home building company like Ameri-Star Homes, you will not have to gather all the professionals on your own. The company has all of these components built into it, so that all you need to worry about is your home design, budget, ensuring the quality of the construction, and the move-in timeline.
Know the Rules
Whether you have bought land that already had these tests or needs them, you will need to have recent surveys assessing the soil quality, septic suitability, boundary lines, any contamination, and any tree or plant species that need preserving. Understand the costs of obtaining this information. Understand the zoning laws that determine your maximum building square footage, height, etc.
Plan Your Home Site
Once you have all the parameters in place and buildability determined, you can draw a simple land development for your home and choose and refine a floor plan of your choice. It’s best to work with a residential home designer or an architect to finalize the plan.
Budget Clearly and Wisely
Budget for the land development and home building process. Land development involves clearing the land, grading it, implementing stormwater management, and installing utilities. You and your team will need to clearly define soft and hard costs of land development and home building and come up with a stable plan to finance it.
Submit Plans for Permits and Approval
Submit the plan to the appropriate entities for permits and local planning approval. Your custom home plan will need to be submitted accurately for a swift process.
Finalize the Plan Before Breaking Ground
Once you have gotten the permits and other approvals, your home building team will need to plan the home building procedure. Finally, it will be time to break ground and put the plans into action.
Let Ameri-Star Homes Build Your New Custom Home!
Ameri-Star Homes was built on the idea that a home is not complete until the homeowner is 100% satisfied. That’s right, completely satisfied homeowners. Whether you want a home built on one of our home sites or on your own land, count on the same high quality from Ameri-Star. We have set out to exceed all your expectations of integrity, affordability, and customer satisfaction. Build lasting memories for years to come with Ameri-Star Homes.
For more information, contact us today at 410-590-1000 or through our contact page. For more helpful custom home tips, keep in touch with us through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest!