Lots to Consider When Buying a Lot in Seattle
If you’re considering building a custom home in the Seattle area, you really need to start from the ground up—and we mean that literally! The lot you chose for your home plays a huge role in how your home is built, how it looks, and even in how much it costs. And aside from the physical characteristics of your lot, where you build will have a significant impact on your lifestyle.
There’s more to a good lot than good looks: For example, hilly land may provide a beautiful setting; but, it may be more expensive to build your home there than on flatter ground. Visit the property several times to ensure that the property is right for your family. Land that looks great in the summer may look totally different in the winter.
Your location should fit your lifestyle: There’s something appealing about building “away from it all.” But is that conducive to the lifestyle you lead? If you have kids, do you want to be spending lots of extra time driving them to activities? A longer commute to work may be relaxing initially, but will you feel the same way after six months or a year? Will you miss the convenience of being able to run down to the grocery store in five minutes? There’s no “right” answer to these questions for everybody—but you do need to answer them for your lifestyle.
If the shoe (or lot) fits . . . : Does the lot you’re looking at fit the design, style, and size of the home you want to build? Not every style fits or works well on every type of lot.
Consider the covenants: Are there restrictive covenants in place that you don’t know about? Even those these covenants may be designed to protect the overall value of homes in the area, you’ll want to make sure that they don’t exclude something that’s important to you. It’s much better to know that up front.
Future developments: It’s a good idea to know what else might be built in the area you’re looking at—whether it’s a school, a church, additional residences, or a big box store!