Did I mention that I am my own General Contractor? I have no builder - I am the builder. When I mention that most people gasp (or laugh loudly - BRIAN!), but I feel quite capable to take on the task. Years of project management experience (and certification) and a couple Engineering degrees seem to lend themself to doing such a thing. So what the heck. By my calculations, it's saving me around 20-25% over the cost of paying a builder to do a job that most likely (as in the past) will just piss me off. So with my best dose of humility - I'm in charge!
My first discussion is about the lot. I've attached a picture of the lot as seen from the road driving by as it was the day I bought it. As you could see, there's not much around it, but a bunch of trees, which is exactly what I wanted. 15 months later, I couldn't be more pleased with the lot. So my first advice on the lot is (a) Make sure you know what you want and why you want it (see my prior post), and (b) make sure you're getting what you want and take the time to put in ample due-dilligence. One piece of information I learned in my discovery was that even though the seller was touting the lot as having access to City Water and Sewer Service (which it does), it was not "Tapped" in yet and didn't have a meter. So I called the city to find out how much that would cost and quickly learned that they charge by the Linear Foot of Road Frontage that the lot has (this has 125 ft.). That interpreted to close to $14,000.00 to get a water meter set, a sewer cleanout pipe attached, and making the services usable to the property. After a little shock, I was ok with that and realized that was fairly normal for a rural lot.
My first discussion is about the lot. I've attached a picture of the lot as seen from the road driving by as it was the day I bought it. As you could see, there's not much around it, but a bunch of trees, which is exactly what I wanted. 15 months later, I couldn't be more pleased with the lot. So my first advice on the lot is (a) Make sure you know what you want and why you want it (see my prior post), and (b) make sure you're getting what you want and take the time to put in ample due-dilligence. One piece of information I learned in my discovery was that even though the seller was touting the lot as having access to City Water and Sewer Service (which it does), it was not "Tapped" in yet and didn't have a meter. So I called the city to find out how much that would cost and quickly learned that they charge by the Linear Foot of Road Frontage that the lot has (this has 125 ft.). That interpreted to close to $14,000.00 to get a water meter set, a sewer cleanout pipe attached, and making the services usable to the property. After a little shock, I was ok with that and realized that was fairly normal for a rural lot.
Next before-you-buy suggestion on the lot: Know what IS and what WILL BE on the adjoining properties around you. That means looking up the plat plan w/the city and inquiring about any city plans for development. I went one step further and interrogated the neighboring property owners about their plans. I was pleased to find out that the large parcel to my east (right side facing) was owned by a retired EPA scientist-turned real-estate developer, and he was in the process of approving plans to put in an environmental conservation subdivision there. Lucky for me, the large piece of wooded acreage directly adjacent to and behind my tentative property would be the "conservation" part, and NOT the subdivision, meaning it would ALWAYS-AND-FOREVER be wooded!
Final advice on the lot - Make sure whomever you're buying the property from pays to have a Final Current Survey performed and drawn by a surveyor and included in your closing package. It is the proof of your property lines and will be very useful going forward - a must-have. Asking to have it as part of your closing package will save you about $500.00 over having it done yourself afterwards. I was able to get mine (AND the plot plan later) for free with some prudent negotiation (more on that later). That's about it for pre-lot-purchase work. I can't give much advice on determining what a fair price to pay for a lot is. That's up to you. It's alot like buying a car though. The one with the money (you) has the power of negotiation. Don't let them shame you out of low-balling. Walk away at least once and let them call YOU back.
Next thing I did (after buying the perfect lot) was downloaded a comprehensive "How to Build your own House" guide here: http://www.byoh.com/ and spent about 2 months studying it inside out, making sure I understood every detail. In my next blog entry, I'll talk a little about budgets, planning, and taking on what seems like an insurmountable task.
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