Once you’ve made the decision to build your own home, you might feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg! Next comes an awful lot of planning and preparation, and arguably the most important decision of all must be made: where should you build your new home?
Below are just 6 of the many factors you’ll need to carefully consider when trying to find the ideal location for your new home:
- Electricity and water supplies
If your home won’t be using traditional forms of electricity, you’ll need to have alternative energy supplies in place, such as solar panels. For most families, however, being connected to the national power grid is essential, so you must check that your home will be located where it can easily be connected to the grid.
Check for a local water supply at your desired location and make sure it’s also connected to the sewage system so you can eliminate your household’s waste safely and efficiently.
2. Schools
If you’ve got kids or are planning to start a family, you’ll need to check whether there are schools nearby, and if they have space for your children to attend.
3. Crime rate
Nobody wants to live in a high crime area, but if your budget is limited, you may be forced to. Unfortunately, high crime areas aren’t just risky for you and your family, but could see your insurance premiums rise significantly. Wherever possible, consider building your new home in an area with a low crime rate.
4. Traffic
Living close to a busy road isn’t just dangerous for your kids and pets, but can present a real problem when it comes to noise pollution, too. Wherever possible, choose a location away from major roads, but which still gives you ready access to the town or city.
5. Noise
As mentioned in the previous point, high volumes of traffic can create a real noise nuisance, as can densely populated areas. To give you a real idea of noise pollution levels, stay overnight in the neighborhood if possible, or visit at different times of the day.
6. Air pollution
While many of take fresh air for granted, dirty air can have serious consequences for your health, and exposing your lungs to pollutants over time, can lead to a variety of health issues, such as asthma or even lung infections. In general, less densely populated areas tend to have better air quality, so if possible, choose somewhere with less people, and plenty of trees and vegetation.
There are many more factors to consider when deciding where to build you home, such as whether there are recreational facilities nearby and whether you want to live in a closeknit community, or in a more isolated spot. Wherever you decide to build your new home, though, working with an experienced company that specializes in new construction can be the difference between a dream home, and a nightmare home. Do your research well, and choose a company that you’ll be able to work effectively with, for the best results.