(813) 732-8121
Building a new home is always exciting, but when you already own the land you want to build on, you’re way ahead of schedule. For some people, finding the perfect lot for their new home is the hardest part of the entire process!
But, just because you own a piece of land, it doesn’t always mean that it’s ready for construction; there’s a lot to think about when it comes to new construction on land that has never been built on before. In this post, we discuss some of the most important considerations when building your Tampa Bay dream home on your own land.
Finding Your Builder
Don’t wait until you’re ready to pick out a floor plan to start searching for the perfect custom home builder. Experienced local builders will have a wealth of knowledge that you’ll want to tap into on Day 1. If you’re planning on building in Tampa Bay, look no further than the expert team at Gloger Construction! Years of living and working in the Tampa area have helped us build a strong network of tradesmen, inspectors, surveyors, and more, which means we can connect you with all of the resources that you need to get your dream home built on schedule and within budget. We’d love to be a part of your custom home building process from start to finish!
Nature
Nature can throw a wrench into even the best laid plans. Before you even think about building a new home, first find out if your land is susceptible to floods or wildfires. Once you confirm that inclement weather won’t be an issue for your new home’s structure, have a soil composition test done to determine if the land is suitable for building and/or planting. You can order your own DIY test or search for a local resource that does testing, like your local extension office. It’s much easier to remedy soil issues before a home is built on the lot.
Zoning
While you’re waiting on your soil composition test results to come in, check to see how your land is zoned and which, if any, ordinances apply. If you want to build a residential home on the land, but it’s zoned as commercial property, there are steps you’ll need to take in order to be issued a variance.
Local ordinances, like recycling requirements or watering restrictions, are also very important to know. Not following these ordinances can lead to costly fines, so check with the city and/or county on this before breaking ground.
Along with researching current zoning and ordinances, it’s also important to look into any future infrastructure plans that may affect the area. A new road being built right next to your lot, for example, will have a drastic effect on your property value, so think ahead when planning your home construction.
Easements
Easements give other people the right to use your property, regardless of who owns it. Easements may be given to utility companies, government offices, or even your neighbors. Purchasing land does not get rid of any easements placed on the property by previous owners. New land owners are often caught by surprise when they find out they have to allow their neighbors to use their driveway, or that the water company has the right to lay new pipes across their future front yard. Use a title search and insurance company to dig up information about easements on your land, preferably before purchasing. If there are easements on your property that you want to be removed, you’ll need to consult with a real estate attorney familiar with local laws.
Surveying
Every property where a new home will be built should be surveyed. A land survey simply defines the borders of your property based on the recorded deed, historical data, and best surveying practices. If you choose not to get your land surveyed, don’t be surprised if, for example, you find out that those pecan trees that you thought you owned actually belong to your neighbor instead.
Utilities & Resources
Unless you’re planning on living completely off the grid, you’ll need to know if and how local utility companies can run electricity, water, sewage, etc. to your new home. Utility workers will likely come out to your property and assess where the best places to run utility lines will be. The placement and orientation of your new home will be very dependent on the location of utility lines, so finding this information out as soon as possible is advisable.
Home Placement
Take all of the information you gathered in the previous steps to your chosen builder to start the conversation about home placement. You may already have a location on your land where you’ve dreamed of building your home, and hopefully, that is a possibility. However, there are sometimes circumstances that prevent stable building at your ideal location, so always have one or two backup locations in mind to prevent too much disappointment.
Floor Plan
Once you know everything that you possibly can learn about your land, where your new home’s utility lines will be placed, and where the house itself will be built, it’s time for the fun part… choosing your floor plan!
The floor plan is arguably the most important part of the new home building process. It’s the layout for the space where you’ll raise your family, spend your golden years, and even care for grandkids. So many of the memories that make life special will happen within those walls, so it needs to be perfect.
When you choose Gloger Construction as your custom home builder in Tampa, we’ll help you think through every single inch of your future floor plan. We have many plans for you to choose from, which are all fully customizable! We’ve built dozens of custom homes here on the Gulf coast, so we know about all of the obstacles common in our coastal area. Let us use our experience to make your dream home a reality!
Customizations
Once you’ve decided on a floor plan, it will be time to add the finishing touches! Crown molding, vaulted ceilings, built-ins, even spiral staircases… the possibilities are endless! The design consultants here at Gloger Construction can walk you through all of your interior and exterior customization options, placing the last few pieces of your home’s puzzle together so that you can envision the finished product.
Build Your Dream Home on Your Own Land in Tampa Bay
We’re ready to help turn your lot into the property of your dreams. If you’re a Tampa Bay landowner and are ready to build your custom home, call Gloger Construction at (813) 732-8121 or contact us online to schedule a consultation today!