Tips for Buying the Perfect Lot in Highlands & Cashiers, NC
You found your agent一now you are buying the perfect lot of your dreams!
Without these tips for buying the perfect lot, you may have a stressful experience. You’re looking to build your dream home in the NC mountains, and you’ve even found your real estate agent! Now it’s time to get to the really important part: choosing the site of your new home! It’s a big decision, so we don’t take it lightly. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of factors you need to consider before making a purchase. Check it all out below, and don’t forget that the real estate experts at Caliber Fine Properties are here to help walk you through this whenever you’re ready!
Factor #1: Foundations
- This piece of the puzzle can very quickly get out of hand and bust even the most well-planned budget. Not only are foundations the most important part of your house, they can also be the most expensive and difficult part to estimate. Your home’s footprint and foundation play a major factor in your overall cost to construct, so be sure to start there!
Factor #2: Water & utility connections
- When you are searching for the perfect place to build your property, it’s much more convenient to choose a community that offers water and sewer connections. Then, you won’t have to worry about where to put a private well or septic system. If you have a piece of property that has a well and septic system, your building envelope has to be sent back from each of those, whereas if you were building in a community with community water and community sewer, you can simply connect to those at the road near your driveway. Easy peasy!
Factor #3: Topography and soil type
- Soil survey is the examination, assessment, classification, and mapping of the soil in a specific area. Although costly and time-consuming, a soil survey can provide your architect and builder with valuable insight into site characteristics. It will allow your team of professionals to recommend the ideal type of foundation your home will need, and possibly even whether or not the likelihood of hitting rock and blasting is required. Proper due diligence and discovery can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected overages.
Factor #4: Exposure and positioning
- It is a factor that you easily overlook, but there’s a lot to consider with sun exposure and placement of your home! Southern exposure is best for strong light all day, whereas east is best for morning light. South facing gets sunlight most of the day except at the front of the home. A north facing gets sun at the back of the house. Therefore, north facing homes are naturally cooler and darker at the front of the house. North facing is ideal for soft lighting throughout the day. When it comes to views, the ideal views may be west facing, ideal for afternoon light and magical sunsets, but remember your sunsets may be easier to enjoy inside due to the extreme rays from the sun at this time of day.
If you are ready to find your perfect lot, contact us today. Put our experience to work for you – the possibilities are endless!