Q: What should I look for when selecting acreage to build my new home?

A: When selecting a home site on acreage you need to be aware of some additional costs to develop your land and stay within your budget. Factors to consider include:

Driveway or road –

Most counties require a driveway approach permit that can require a culvert and/or specific gravels for the approach. Of course the further away from the county road you set your home the higher the cost of the road. An asphalt top is the best and most expensive. Crushed gravel is the norm and least expensive when selecting your road surface. Price can range from $2,000 to over $15,000.

Other factors to consider include water source, sewage system and power and gas.

Water source –

Most acreage sites are not serviced by a public water system. If a well is not included with the purchase of the land you will be required to install one. If you will be installing a well it is prudent to make your purchase of the land contingent upon finding water. The land is of no use if you are left with a dry well. Once a well is installed a pump and pressure tank is needed to complete your system. Price can range from $8,000 on the low end to over $16,000 and depends on the depth of the well and the distance from the home.

Sewage system –

Like the water source, most acreage lots are not serviced by a public sewer system in which case you will be required to install an on-site septic system. Most counties require the septic system to be designed by a licensed engineer approved by that county. Prices can range from $6,000 to over $20,000 and are dependant on the soils found on the property. Sandy soils are the least expensive with clay soils being the more expensive.

Power and Gas –

Is there power available to the property and if so, how far way is it? Most acreage lots are not serviced with natural gas. Now you need to determine which power company services your area and get a quote from them. Costs will vary from $3,500 to over $10,000 and depends on overhead versus underground installations, distance from source to the house and power company.

Something else to consider with electric heat is your home heating system. Simply adding a heat pump to your electric furnace can increase the efficiency of your system dramatically. The most efficient system on the market today is the geothermal heating system. Costs can range from $4,000 for a heat pump to over $20,000 for a geothermal system, but the power companies and the federal/state governments have rebate programs in effect that can offset up to 40 percent of these costs.

Only after you have determined these costs can you determine the total cost of your new home. Make sure if you are working with a contractor to include all items required for the entire project in order to avoid unpleasant surprises during construction.

This week’s answer was provided by:

Corey Condron

Condron Homes

www.condronhomes.com
cpcondron@condronhomes.com