Before You Buy A Lot

The fact is, when most people begin to look for a lot to build a home, they approach the process completely backwards. The vast majority of home site buyers put three times the effort and planning into their kitchen cabinets than they do into picking their lot. And that can be understandable (until you really start to think about it). You and your family are going to be living in the home and spending the majority of your time in that structure. You want to make it just right; a place to enjoy your family, rest and relax and generally live the dream of home ownership in a beautiful new home. And I understand it, almost. Thinking and planning your kitchen and bathrooms, bedrooms and home color is a lot more fun that thinking about a lot. But nothing will make your future home better than putting in on a quality lot, and it’s the one thing you will realize that you can’t change later that has a huge effect on the future resale value of your home.

Beyond a short list of “wants”, when it comes to lot buying, few people really get into the nuts and bolts of looking for one. The few that do, they reap the rewards of their efforts for not only as long as they own that land, but often on the resale of that property as well.

Here’s the short and simple truth. When your home gets outdated you can redecorate. When you have a child or two or an elderly parent needs to move in, you can add a room or finish off a basement for more room. When the kids move out, you can move some walls and make a big hobby room for your retirement pleasure. Feel like putting in a shed? Go for it. Want to add a deck? Have a great time. All of this is doable with time, planning and, of course, money.

Now ready for this? Once you own a piece of land, no matter what happens in the future, you can not change your lot. You’re stuck with it. When you build or buy an existing home and something goes wrong, like the paint peels after six months, you can repaint the house. When something happens that has a negative affect on your property however, there is often very little, if anything, you can do about it.

Once you own a piece of property you are at the mercy of those around you. They are going to do whatever they are allowed to do with or on their land. Never assume you simply “know” what people can and can’t do with their property. Do not put yourself in a situation where you do not fully understand what can, and probably will, happen in the close proximity to a piece of land you are considering purchasing.

Let that sink in for just a moment.

Let’s look at some examples. Keep in mind not only your immediate enjoyment of the property but your resale value here. For just a second let’s assume you’ve just closed on a lot a month ago…

What happens if someone builds a gas station on that woody piece of land right behind your new lot? So long as it’s allowed by the zoning code - too bad, there’s nothing you can do about it. Sure you can put your house up for sale, but what’s happened to the resale value? Where before you had a nice wooded lot behind you is now a 24 hour gas station and convenience store with lights glaring, gas trucks delivering gas and cars coming and going all day and night long.

You come to realize that your lot floods every spring? Too bad.

As hunting season comes around, you suddenly realize that every hunter for a three county radius parks and parties in the field across the street for four weeks every season? Too bad…the guy that owns that land has been doing it for years.

Your home owners’ association builds a maintenance shed for all the lawn mowers in the development right next door to your new home on that beautiful open land? Too bad...it’s been planned that way since the start of the development!

The town builds a major four lane bypass that runs right past your once quiet street? Too bad…it was approved two years ago.

See where I’m going with this?

You buy your lot and turn in the floor plans for your dream home only to find out there is a 60 foot easement running down the side property line. Your floor plan not only won’t fit on the lot but you can’t even build a home of the same size. It’s got to be way smaller. Didn’t do your homework? Too bad.

A guy down the street builds a motocross track in his back yard for his three sons to ride their dirt bikes on. And they ride every morning before school, after school ‘til dark, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Too bad…nothing in the town code says he can’t do it!

The old gun range down the road that everyone told you closed years ago has reopened for business? And it’s free shotgun rental day? Or, those old railroad tracks that haven’t been used since the Great Depression suddenly come back into service?

Too bad…things change.

This stuff happens all the time.

Sure, you can raise hell, call the papers, call the cops, get an attorney and sue the town. While you’re at it, get all the neighbors up in arms with pitchforks and torches…make it a party. But, guess what? 99.9 times out of 100, when there’s an issue like the examples above, it’s a totally legal and approved event. It’s been on the books for years, or it’s simply zoned that way or, even simpler, there’s nothing to say they can’t do it.

Does it have a negative impact on your land? Sure! Is it fair? Not really but then again life’s not fair! But it happens all the time. And whose fault is it you didn’t know? Your real estate agent, your lawyer, the guy who sold you the land?

Ultimately, it’s your fault. You have to take the necessary steps to ensure your present and future enjoyment of a piece of land you’re looking to buy. Doing your homework includes knowing everything there is to know about not only the land itself but what is going on, and what can go on, around that property. Those who simply assume they know what can happen, or outright don’t even think about it, are the folks that get stuck. Protect yourself, your investment and your future resale value. Don’t cut corners and do the legwork. Find out before you buy!