Building a Custom Home on a Larger Rural Plot

Purchasing land and getting to build your dream house is a dream of many people. The process requires a big investment in both time and money. Although exciting, constructing a house on undeveloped land is a daunting task and also expensive.

Crucial general factors are involved in deciding the perfect spot to build. The first step is finding the right location while avoiding view obstructions, marshy areas, and doing land surveys. Surveying helps one to know their estate boundaries to avoid passing neighbors’ property lines. Accessibility to the land is another crucial factor, the roads should be wide enough for vehicles to pass and the areas should be accessible even during severe weather conditions like during winter ice and snow. A percolation test should be conducted to review the water drainage in different soils. A perc test is vital for when determining the building design and even when setting up a septic system if the water doesn’t properly drain it can cause a swamp of sewer water. Utility information should be obtained because some areas are well suited to running water and electricity than others. Getting an area with pre-existing utilities helps alleviate a great many expenses that are involved in the starting of developing them from scratch. Other utilities to look out for that are crucial include, gas and drainage. All obstacles should be avoided including underground obstacles such as large rocks, old wells, and cemeteries because they can pose difficulties in building the home. The landowners should make sure they do not build on a flood plain especially if the land has standing waters in some areas. The building site should not be an irregular shape or any sharp corners. The land terrain should be such that the place is elevated, and levelled from end to end with uniform slopes for proper drainage. When building one should consider that the land that is located where natural light and air is unobstructed. Legal and financial rights that dictate ownership and cost should be considered a plus, also access to amenities such as schools, hospitals, shopping areas and transportation among others.

After building on undeveloped land the commercial value is affected in different ways. Land value is determined by the economical best use of land which produces higher net returns in time. Typically commercial land usually has more value than residential areas. In that case, the land has good topography and climate plus sewer lines then it costs much higher. Location, transportation, amenities availability also increase land value, but if most of these features aren’t available then the value will decrease.

In urban areas, after buying developed land you can start construction after closing, but in rural areas, undeveloped land requires weeks or even months to set up the infrastructure. Plus working with the local government to get different permissions throughout the process.

So, you’ve bought a small piece of land in an urban area and are looking to build a home. Urban areas tend to have less property available, and plot sizes can be small. Even in this situation, you can make a roomy home that’s perfect for you. Let’s look into how you can successfully build your home on a smaller urban plot.

The first thing we want to focus on is the internal layout of the home. Concentrate on your floorplan and how to use each space efficiently will be paramount to the perfect home. You will need to create spaces that can meet multiple needs, like making a guest bedroom also double as a utility room or a study that can double as a game room. You don’t want to fall into the trap of cramming too many bedrooms on the second floor or too many rooms on the first floor, or your ground and upper floors may become out of sync, which can negatively affect the flow of the home.

Some out of the box ways of thinking regarding homes include the Low-Profile Homestyle. This involves building rooms below the ground and adding some green space above it. The street view is a single-story home with a basement to utilize all space available. You can use every part of your area above ground for the kitchen and a living room and add the living spaces underneath like your master/guest bedrooms and a study. You can add a courtyard with any available space on your ground floor to create more of an open space feeling. Keep in mind the logistics of this sort of design, like where your sewage line is and if you’ll have to install a pump or to ensure your builders are aware of any storage space issues as they build.

The other more traditional way to utilize your space is the multi-story home. You can build up instead of down and get a two or three-story building on your new plot of land. With this style of build, you will want to try to get open staircases scissor-style to give you more of a sense of free space in your home. You can also utilize roof space, though you will want to ensure that your roof is constructed the correct way, usually attic roof trusses, to design a “roof room.”

Concerning the permitting and zoning of your plot of land, you will need to reach out to your local municipality during your planning process to ensure your build goes smoothly. Many cities accommodate smaller home builds, however zoning codes and house ordinances can be very specific, so don’t skip over the details. Construction codes will be what you want to ask about, and the contractor that you have chosen to assist with building your new home should be able to help with any rules or regulations that you need to follow.

Custom Cottage-Style House Plans – what to look for

Cottage style home designs evoke a picturesque storybook charm. They combine informality, efficiency, and are woodsy. They embody vertical board-and-batten, gable roofs, stucco walls, bay windows, shingle, balconies, and small windows.

Custom cottage-style homes are an affordable option for first-time homeowners looking to make the most out of their block of land. Cottage homes feature several great advantages. The cottage homes offer individuality and clients are able to create a timeless feel of what they love in their homes. They have a practical and highly functional design, with open plan layouts modern cottage-style homes are spacious while at the same time remain cozy and comfortable. Cottage-style homes are low maintenance and offer easy care, an owner can enjoy free time without unending cleaning or gardening plus other chores. With just minimal creative ideas you can create a wonderful street appeal for your cottage home because they’re designed to fit narrow blocks. Decorating can be expensive, but cottage-style homes come in handy because size is a factor hence, spending much won’t be a problem. With just a little spent, you can make your cottage house look marvelous.

The downside to cottage-style homes is they are small and a big family can’t fit in, so for people who love bigger spaces it is not an option. Creating a custom home also can be time-consuming.

Modern/Contemporary House Plans – what to look for

Custom made/contemporary home plans today are simply homes made to fit an owner’s taste. Basically any architectural design that is popular currently can be customized. Modern contemporary home plans embody a blend of all trendy architecture that showcase sleek lines, minimal details, monochromatic color scheme, open floor plans, large windows, efficient natural lighting, and elegant outdoor living.

When it comes to modern-day living, contemporary home designs are the go-to for most people. There are a number of good reasons to choose contemporary homes. The first advantage is they are uniquely made to fit the client’s needs with a variety of options to choose from. Spaciousness is a major feature. In modern home plans space is used efficiently and it compliments the whole structure both inside and outside. Lovers of natural lighting are well covered with contemporary homes, large windows facing the south side of the house are put and help with cutting down energy costs during summer months. The homes feature aesthetically pleasing design while at the same time minimizing unnecessary add-ons. Contemporary homes are eco-friendly hence recycling energy wherever possible.

The downside to custom made contemporary homes is they are expensive and take a bit longer to construct. There is an added cost of hiring an architect and contractor. It is difficult to get the home appraised for the total construction cost.

Custom Colonial Revival Home Plans – what to look for

When designing or choosing a home, most people like to choose an aesthetic when it fits in their budget. One of the most popular aesthetics of architectural style is Colonial Revival. The Colonial style often gets its popularity from the eloquence of old fashioned architects. Early Dutch and English settlers originally created this style for their homes, so it brings back parts of late 19th century history.

Colonial Revival is actually a mixture of a few different architectural styles; although they are all American. You have probably seen this style of home building before, as they most notably have roof forms like gambrel, gabled, and hipped. Some architecture is rigid and difficult to remodel, but this form of Colonial Revival makes remodeling a bit easier.

Entrances, Windows and Features

The entrances to Colonial Revivals are typically decorative and notable, but the windows are quite simple. Oftentimes, these homes are built out of brick and stone. These homes are spacious, but the downside to the space is that the multi-level architecture forces the space to be divided into many smaller rooms. If you are looking for a home with large ceilings for skylights or ceiling decorations, this will also be a con to you, as the ceiling is typically only vaulted in the entryway.

Colonial Revivals can be an awesome blast to the past if you are interested in the aesthetic, and the main cons of this style of home have to do with dividing space and limiting decorating styles. However, if this style is up your alley, it is sure to create a homely feel for your family.