Tips for Choosing the Right Property for a Custom Home
Denver is a great place to live and work. Whether you have young children and want access to the best schools or you’re a single person who loves fun and exciting nightlife, you can build a home that is just right for you. Custom homes are great because you can choose the size that fits your needs and get all of the features you want while still sticking to a budget. One thing to keep in mind is that you need the right piece of property for your new home. Check out the top tips to find the perfect property for your custom home build.
Consider the Location
One of the first things to consider is the overall location and whether it meets your needs. Do you love having neighbors close by and don’t mind having a smaller yard? Buying in the suburbs is a good option for you. The suburbs are usually close to the amenities you need such as hospitals and restaurants, too. On the other hand, if you prefer your privacy and want more land, think about the rural spots far outside of the city limits. You can often get more land for less money when you move a little further out.
Verify Utility Hook Ups
No matter where you want to live in Denver, you need certain utilities. Denver has codes that apply to all types of property owners. You essentially need both running water and power for the city to view your home as habitable. When you do not have those utilities, the city can condemn your home and keep you from living there. Before you buy any piece of land, verify that it has hookups for all of the required utilities. It’s also helpful to consider how much it will cost to install those hookups.
Compare the Property and House
A common mistake that some Denver residents make is that they choose the wrong property for their needs. As much as you might love the idea of building a huge house with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms that also has a huge deck or a patio outside, you need to make sure the property has enough space for your wishes. Walking around the lot helps you imagine your future home. Make sure that it can accommodate the footprint of your future home and any outdoor features you may want such as a swimming pool or garage.
Look Into Zoning Laws
The zoning laws in Denver are the laws that state how you can use a property. One of the nice things about buying land in an established suburb or neighborhood is that you already know you can build a house there. Residential zones are for homes, while commercial zones are for businesses. You also need to look at the zoning laws in regard to what you want to do with the property. Some laws may prevent you from building a home with more than two stories. Others require that you have a certain amount of open space around your home. You may even come across laws that block you from operating a business out of your home.
Talk to the Neighbors
Even if you have your heart set on a piece of land that is miles away from the closest neighbors, you’ll still want to talk to them and get an idea of how they feel about the area. Now is a good time to ask about the best places to eat and where to shop for groceries. You may want to talk with them about delivery options and what they do for fun, too. If you can, try to drive around the area at different times of the day and night. While the property might appear quiet and peaceful in the middle of the day, you never know what you’ll find at night.
Check for Local Restrictions
There is nothing worse than buying a piece of land for your custom home and finding that it has certain restrictions that limit what you can do. Denver has many HOAs both in the heart of the city and the suburbs. When you live in an HOA, you need to pay a fee to the organization and follow some rules that are often quite strict. Those rules might limit the type of holiday decorations you can display and when you put them up as well as how many visitors you can have and the colors you can paint your home.
Compare Internet Options
Nearly everyone in the world today needs the internet at home. Before you agree to buy a property, compare the internet options that are available there. Many areas only offer cable internet. This allows you to sign up for a plan and get both TV and internet at home for one monthly price as well as phone service. Other areas may offer fiber optic hookups that offer faster speeds. When you move deep outside of the city limits, you might find land where you can only use satellite internet. Don’t forget to check with local providers about how much it will cost to install the internet, too.
Consider Your Future Plans
While it’s easy to find a property that matches your needs today, finding one that matches your future needs is a little harder. The upside is that it can save you money in the long run. You don’t need to worry about the hassles of selling your home and taking out a new mortgage or building another home and moving. Consider what the area looks like now and any future plans. You might love a plot of land in a rural community that is private and quiet but find that a company plans to build a huge manufacturing facility nearby in the next few years. Check into the history of the nearby schools and parks, too.
Pay for an Inspection
Paying for an inspection is the last thing you need to do before you buy land for your custom home. When you buy a home that someone lived in before, the inspection will reveal the overall condition of the property and the possible problems you might face. A land or property inspection can reveal similar things. The inspector will look at whether the land is strong enough to support a home and let you know if you have enough space for a swimming pool or a garage. You should also learn about the environmental factors that impact your future home such as drainage.
Choose a Home Builder
When you decide to build a custom home, you need to buy a piece of land and find the right builders. Denver Urban Builders can help you every step of the way. The talented builders assist you in designing a custom home with the right floor plan and all of the top features and amenities that you need and love. You can get help establishing your budget and choosing plans that work with the amount you want to spend. No matter where you plan to build and live in the Denver area, turn to them for help. Call (720) 902-5773 today and reach the crew or use the online contact form to reach out.
Nick Poulin
Denver Urban Builders began in 2017 owned and operated by GC, Nick Poulin. Nick is a Colorado Native and has been in the business of building for 18 years. Nick began in construction at a young age in the family business.