What Should You Know About Purchasing Raw Land To Build Your Dream Home?
Although the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and bursting real estate bubble remains a very recent memory for many,property for sale in other parts of the country is still being sold at a premium price. If you've found yourself with a desire to set down roots in one of these areas, you may believe the only way to avoid being priced out of the market is to purchase raw land and save up enough to build the perfect home later. In many cases, you'll be able to live quite comfortably in a used recreational vehicle (RV) or manufactured home while saving extra cash. Read on to learn more about what you'll need to do to make this land habitable before you build a temporary (or permanent) residence.
Installing a septic tank
If you're planning to park an RV or manufactured home on your raw land for a few years before construction begins, you may be tempted to install a small septic tank for temporary use and later install the larger household tank once construction has begun. However, in many cases it can make more sense to build a household-sized septic tank sooner rather than later. Not only can this save you the double effort of burying two separate tanks, it may allow you to discover potentially complicating factors (like a high water table or hidden sinkhole) at a time when delaying construction won't cost you money by the day.
When determining the size and location of your septic tank, you'll want to take into account your property features (and your proposed build site) as well as the size of the future home you're envisioning. You'll need to ensure that your septic tank is placed in an area safe from flooding, which could cause sewage to bubble back up through your sinks, toilets, or bathtubs. You'll also want to make sure your septic tank is in a location that will allow pump trucks easy access without destroying your lawn.
Although all septic tanks will need to be pumped at regular intervals to prevent backups, choosing a tank size large enough for your home and family's needs will help maximize the amount of time between cleanings. For example, if you're planning to construct a 4-bedroom home, you'll likely need a septic tank at least 1,200 gallons in size -- potentially larger if you're also building multiple bathrooms or expect your household's water consumption to be higher than average.
Running electrical lines to your property
While many parcels or lots are sold "pre-wired" and ready for construction to begin, in some cases the land you purchased may be truly raw, with your only source of electricity the main breaker box on the outer edge of your property. Although it may be tempting to skip the wiring step for the time being and simply power your home or RV through a series of extension cords connected to the breaker box near the road, doing this on more than a temporary or emergency basis could pose a fire hazard and potentially short out the appliances you'll be powering.
To run electrical wires to your building site, you'll need to decide whether you'd like to hang or bury the cables. In general, hanging these cables is only a wise idea if the span between the central power source and your future home is short -- around 10 feet or less. Otherwise, you'll want to bury these cables about 1.5 feet below your driveway, walking paths, or paved patios and around 3 feet below your lawn. Doing so will fully insulate your home's electrical supply from disruption from the elements or even an aggressive lawnmower.