The land needs to be "perked"
to make sure that it is suitable for drainage of your septic system. If you enter into a
contract on a piece of property it is important to add the phrase " Land to perk to
customers satisfaction." This simple phrase will void the contract if the land does
not perk. There are many pieces of property that will never perk! The land is usually
"perked" for a fee by the local county Health Dept.
"Zoning". It is vital that you check
the local zoning in your area to see if the piece of property you have chosen can be used
in the manner you wish.
To place the home on your new piece of property
your next concern should be "the cost of clearing the land". Always get written
estimates. If you are dealing with large tracts of land you may want to check with a local
paper company or lumber mill that will pay you for the timber on the land.
"Road or Driveway". If you’re
cutting down trees then most likely you will need a culvert for water to drain in a ditch
and pass under your driveway. Marl, Rock or Concrete will be needed for a proper driveway.
Always obtain written estimates.
"Survey and staking the site". In
most cases when a piece of property is sold a survey goes hand in hand together. It is
important to know every inch of your boundary lines because, if you put up a fence and it
is accidentally on your neighbors property and he decides to remove or alter it, there is
usually nothing you can do about it.
"Footers" are blocks of concrete
poured into the ground that give your home added support to prevent the home from
settling. Many financial institutions require footers as a part of the home set up. Check
with your lender for requirements of your loan. Always obtain written
estimates.
"The Septic System".
Depending on how the results on your perk test went you will be informed on how many field
lines will need to be run from your septic tank and how large your tank needs to be. This will also vary depending on how many bedrooms are in the home.
If county or city septic service is available you
will have to pay a tap-on fee and be responsible for the cost of running plumbing lines
from the tap-in to your home. Always obtain written estimates.
If the property perks, you are usually informed
where the septic systems should be installed. This area should be staked off as well as
where you intend to place your home. This way you have a positive vision of the layout of
the property. Make sure your driveway or any
other planned improvements are not going over your septic field.
"Well or water supply" If county
water is available, there is usually a tap-on fee and the homeowner is responsible for
plumbing lines from the home to the tap-on. If you require a well for your water
supply, be specific about what you tell the well contractor. Ask for a deep well
approximently 100 ft with good water flow. If it takes an extra 10 feet or more, it will
be well worth the expense. This will be very important when you are watering the lawn,
using the dishwasher, washing clothes and bathing at the same time!
A Land/Home package is available from lending
institutions to cover the cost of your new home, the cost of the land, and the
improvements to the property (septic, well, driveways, electricity) under one mortgage
payment so you do not incur direct out of pocket expenses for those items.
Coastal Homes Inc. has many
qualifying (zoning/pricing/improvement) land lots available in Virginia and North Carolina, email or call us for details and answers to
these and any other questions or concerns you may have. (757) 485-7655.
