NEW HOME PLANNING – Step 1: Site Design

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NEW HOME PLANNING – Step 1: Site Design

If you are thinking about building a new home in the future there are many steps that you should be thinking about and so I thought that a series showing the various steps might be helpful.  Now even if you are hiring an architect it’s always great to have an understanding of the steps that happen and if you are planning on overseeing the project yourself, then knowledge is your key to success.

The first step is to understand the layout of the lot that you will build on.  Is it wooded and will it need to be cleared? Is the terrain hilly?

No matter the lot type you choose there are several things to keep in mind.

* if you choose to build on a hilly lot then your construction costs will be generally higher than a flat lot.

* the distance of your future home from the road and the length of your driveway.  The farther from the main road, the longer the drive, initial electrical costs increase and if you have town services such as water and sewer, those costs will be higher to install also.

All of these are choices that you will need to consider based on your desires and budget.

 

The next thing to consider is how you will orient your home on the site so a site plan will be of great help.

The reason that a site plan is valuable is to make the best use of your lot so that you can build an energy efficient home as well as situate it appropriately for the lot. In the example above key factors such as drainage, the winter winds and the angle of the sun will help keep your home cooler in the warmer months and warmer in the winter.

You also want to consider the natural orientation of the land in regards to your view, where the sun hits at what time of day.  This can help you understand where you want your home located, where you want to plant your vegetable or flower gardens. By understanding your lot and orienting it to work in coordination with nature you will also maximize the sun in the cooler months to keep the home warm, and keep your home cooler in the summer months. In this way you get the free solar heat in the winter and cut your air conditioning costs in the summer.

Stay tuned for our next segment in our NEW HOME PLANNING series

 

 

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