Building your own home from start to finish can seem like a daunting experience when you aren’t sure where to begin. If you don’t already have land, the process becomes even more complicated. 

Our construction expert Rob recently shared some tips with us on our TikTok account about what to look for when buying land to build your home. If you’re not on TikTok just yet, fear not – we’ve recapped Rob’s top three tips below!

Number One: Will It Fit?

When you’re searching for land to build on, the most important consideration is making sure your home will fit in the lot. If you have an idea of the square footage, floorplan, and/or lot dimensions you’d ideally like for your house, this will be an immense help. 

Fit depends on the setbacks defined for your land. “Setback” refers to the minimum distance a structure needs to be placed away from a property’s boundary, or any roads, waterways, or other structures surrounding the land. Setback requirements depend on the zoning of your land within its community, and vary even within the same parish. Keep in mind a Home-Owner’s Association (HOA) or an Architectural Control Committee may have additional covenants or restrictions.

Number Two: Are You Connected?

Building a new home requires access to utilities like water, electricity, sewage, natural gas and more, depending on your plan. After determining if your planned home will fit in the land you've found, utility hookups are next on the list of things to look for. If you’re building in a pre-existing community or neighborhood, utilities will generally be easily accessible. 

Utility installation can be trickier when you’re building on previously undeveloped land. Some utility variants include well water instead of city water, underground septic systems instead of direct sewer lines, and overhead electric feeds instead of underground. Zoning of your land may also affect the types of utility installation you are allowed to access or install.

Number Three: What’s the Zone?

Zoning, zoning, zoning! Zoning refers to municipal or geographic identifications and regulations that dictate in which ways a piece of land can be used. You will want to research the flood zone and filling restrictions for your land. Flood zones affect the altitude above sea level and the height above the street your new home needs to be built. Municipal and regional zoning laws may also affect material usage and fill substrate as environmental integrity and preservation necessitate. Community and Home-Owners’ Association restrictions may have other impacts on the construction of your new home.

Building a home might seem overwhelming, but with Sunrise, you’ll never be confused. Contact our New Home Specialists today to start building your dream home, and stay tuned for our next series of homeowner tips on TikTok!