How to Pick the Right Lot for Your Custom Home
You have finally taken the step and decided to build your dream home. You know that you want to build your home in the Fredericksburg or Northern Virginia area. But after that, you do not know what comes next. If you don’t have a lot, then lot selection is one of the first steps towards building your new custom home. There are several factors that you should keep in mind when choosing your lot. From location to orientation, read about what we consider to be the most important factors and why.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Know Your Ideal Neighborhood
This is a no-brainer. Researching the neighborhood is a must. What can the neighborhood offer you? Does it have playgrounds, a community pool, etc. Also, who lives in the neighborhood? Is it safe? What is it around? Safe neighborhoods tend to be a huge selling point when selling a house. If you ever plan on selling your home, the kind of neighborhood you choose will play a big part in the value of your home.
Know What You Want from Location
In addition to choosing the neighborhood, you want to know how close or far away it is from your job, schools, and shopping centers. This is the home that you will be living in for a while, do you mind having a long commute? Is the shopping center too close, causing major traffic jams? These are all things that can hinder or ease your everyday activities.
Consider the Details of Your New Home Construction
Think Through Orientation & Views
Begin your journey to a dream home by envisioning the aesthetics your surroundings can offer. Does the potential lot allow for picturesque views, whether it be rolling hills, serene lakes, or closer to a downtown area? When collaborating on the design, we prioritize optimizing these views to seamlessly integrate with your home's layout, ensuring that each room becomes a canvas for nature's beauty. The selection of your lot is the first step toward curating a home that not only suits your lifestyle but also captivates your senses with every glance out the window.
A good tip is to look at the lot on Google Street View or from Google Earth! This will give you a good idea of your lot before walking through it.
Optimize for Natural Light: North vs. South
Delving deeper into the orientation equation, the cardinal direction of your lot plays a crucial role in shaping the sun's trajectory across your home. A north-facing home tends to receive consistent, indirect sunlight throughout the day, creating a more evenly lit environment. On the other hand, a south-facing home welcomes more direct sunlight, ideal for spaces that benefit from abundant natural light. Navigating this balance ensures that your home is not only aesthetically pleasing but also energy-efficient, making the most of daylight to illuminate your spaces.
By aligning the home's orientation with the path of the sun, we can maximize the entry of sunlight into crucial areas, such as living rooms, bedrooms, and workspaces. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the interiors but also contributes to energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours.
Familiarize Yourself with Property Conditions & Restrictions
You might want to build something a certain way… but can you? That is why you need to research, research ,research! Are there any environmental restrictions in the area you’re interested in? Do you know the HOA rules? Are there zoning regulations like setbacks or height restrictions? Is your property going to be affected by a historical district? If so, there may be additional restrictions on exterior modifications to preserve the historical character of the area (can get as nitty-gritty as type of materials used and architectural style!)
You want to know all of this and more before deciding on a lot. These are also things your new home construction contractor can guide you in and something our team of custom home builders consult on often.
Fredericksburg Custom Homes is ready to build the house of your dreams! We can advise you on a lot that can facilitate the home that you always wanted. If you are ready for an exceptional home, give our team of professionals a call at 540-220-1500.
