(912) 284-9222
(912) 284-9222
Choosing the best lot for a custom-built, energy-efficient home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the home building process. You can always change the tile in your bathroom if you don’t like it after a couple years, but you can’t move the whole house if you decide you don’t like where it sits. Rely on the experts in Amelia Island, FL, Jacksonville, FL and Waycross, GA who are intimately familiar with the areas, the best neighborhoods and the available amenities of the locations. The experienced team at Cayman Builders help you choose your lot to ensure you make a decision you’ll be satisfied with for years to come. Call them now to enlist their expertise.
Whether you’re interested in moving to the suburbs, to downtown or to a rural setting, thoroughly investigate the area where you’re considering buying a lot. Purchasing land is a big commitment, whether you plan to live there for any length of time, use it as a second home or keep it as an investment. Take the time to drive the area at different times of the day to learn traffic patterns. Take a walk around the neighborhood to get a better feel for it.
Research the current and prospective infrastructure development. Cayman Builders has been building custom-built homes in Waycross, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida for decades. They can answer many of your questions about the lots you’re considering. Important factors that affect the value of your land and the quality of your life include the location of nearby:
Also consider the prospects for growth in the area, while keeping in mind that growth is a double-edged sword. A fast-growing area can increase land values, but population growth can also outstrip local infrastructure. With more than three decades of experience building homes in Florida and Georgia, Cayman Builders is an expert in both regions, so they always choose the best locations for their developments and can help you select the right community.
After you’ve selected a community to live in, your decision-making isn’t done. You need to choose your lot just as carefully. Personal preference is a motivating issue for this decision. For instance, the entrance to a subdivision has more traffic and noise than an isolated child-friendly cul-de-sac, but it also facilitates much quicker travel time to and from home.
Cul-de-sacs usually offer wedge-shaped lots with a smaller front yard. The wedge shape may also force you to build further back on the property, making your driveway longer and increasing your exterior concrete costs. But wedge-shaped lots have larger backyards that can accommodate items, such as a:
Corner lots are usually bigger, offer more visibility and allow for a side-load garage. But you have traffic on two sides of your house and more landscaping responsibilities. Although lower in price, lots at a T-shaped intersection may suffer from the glare of oncoming headlights at night, so you may need special landscaping to accommodate for this potential nuisance. Talk to your team at Cayman Builders about all your concerns. They can help you figure out which lot suits your needs best.
Choosing a lot is an important step if you plan on building a custom home on your own lot. If you’re looking to buy a move-in-ready home developed by Cayman Builders, the house is just as important as the lot it sits on.
Take a close look at any undeveloped land near your proposed lot. While it may look harmless right now, you may find clues to its future by doing some investigating. For instance:
Nearly empty or almost full subdivision lots usually aren’t the most valuable. Most people don’t want to buy the first lots in a development or get stuck with the ones everyone else passed over. You can learn much about a lot’s value by examining similar ones in fully developed subdivisions nearby.
Judging a lot’s ultimate value can be a tricky proposition. A good rule-of-thumb is that the lot should be about 15 to 20 percent of the overall home’s price. Some other details to consider include the lot’s special circumstances, such as:
You need to consider drainage and septic system suitability when choosing your lot. Drainage is crucial, and sandy soils drain better than clay or silt ones. If the native soil is sandy, you can use the excavated soil for backfill, while clay or silt may require mixing with sand during backfill to improve your drainage.
If your lot requires a septic system, you need a soil analyst to evaluate your drainage and water table. If it’s unsatisfactory, you may need enough fill dirt to raise the height of the land to meet local codes. Bringing in fill soil can be expensive, so it’s worth performing a complete investigation before your purchase.
Cayman Builders can build an energy-efficient, custom-built home on your lot. They can even help you choose one of theirs. Contact them today to find out how they can help you.
