What you should know before buying a property.

Building a house is an exciting prospect, but before you can get a foundation into the ground you need a property on which to put it. Often clients approach us when they have a property in hand, but sometimes they come to us before for a feasibility study to determine if a particular property will meet their needs. If this is the stage where you are at, here are some things to consider.

Utilities: Hydro, Water, Sanitary, Gas, Telecommunications

Every house a minimum amount of utilities that it needs to meet based on the BC building code. However, depending on the specific property, how you go about meeting these requirements may be different. Basic utilities include, water, sanitary, electrical, gas, telecommunications. Some such as water, electrical, sanitary are required, while you have more flexibility if you want gas or propane in your house. Properties located in city centres will most commonly have access to water and sanitary systems. Remote locations may require a well or a septic system. If the house location is set back from the existing power lines, you will need to allow for power poles or underground wire. There are many additional off-grid options that we can discuss if the property is in a challenging location.

Zoning & Bylaws: Setbacks, lot coverages, etc.

Every property has certain setbacks and lot coverage calculations depending on the zoning bylaw. These bylaws will vary depending on which authority having jurisdiction the property falls under. This will influence the size and location of the house you can build. Keep in mind that there additional setbacks requirements for riparian areas. Other zoning bylaw regulations will determine the maximum size and height of your house.

Easements, Right-of-ways, Covenants

There are many different easements and right-of-ways that may be found on a property’s title. We perform a title search as a part of our feasibility study service. These can greatly impact where you are permitted to build on the property. There may also be restrictive covenants or building schemes you must adhere to. Certain developments want each house to have a specific style. If this is not the style you prefer, it would be best to choose a property without restrictions.

Environmental Considerations

There are also environmental considerations for each property. These include sunlight, wind, floodplains, steep slope, natural waterways and riparian areas, soil bearing capacity, wildfire risk assessment, and drainage, among others. Some properties will require a geotechnical engineer on the project, if the authority having jurisdiction has any concerns regarding elements such as, steep slopes, soil bearing capacity, drainage, and post-wildfire geohazard risk.

Access

Another thing to think about is access to your property. Certain jurisdictions have a limit on how steep a driveway can be. Or you may want access to specific parts of your property for different uses. If you have a remote property that would require a long driveway, you’ll need to consider the cost of putting the driveway in and if its feasible. Some very remote properties may have to use alternative building methods because it will not be possible to that location.

Preferences & Livability

Your personal preferences will also come into play when choosing a property. For example, you may prefer a walk-out basement or no basement at all. You may want a view or you may want to be tucked into the forest. Think about what you want and don’t want to see from your home. When you visit a potential property, also listen. There may be highway, train, or other sounds that you don’t wish to hear. You can ask your potential neighbours about the location ahead of your purchase. They will be able to give you valuable insight about how it is to live there. For example, will you be able to get deliveries or is there a special mailing system.

Site Preparation

Each property will need to be prepared before you start building. Sometimes this is a simple matter to clear the building site. There might also be underground obstacles. Also think about how you want to landscape and use your property after your house is built. Be sure to choose a property that will suit your lifestyle.

All of these elements factor into your overall construction budget. If affordability is a concern, a challenging property will only add additional costs. This is something we discuss with you and your contractor at the beginning of the process. Going through these elements may cost more up front, but it would be a greater expense in the long run to purchase an unsuitable property that could lead to unexpected construction costs. All of these considerations and more are factored into our feasibility studies. Contact us to start yours!