Do you intend to buy a vacant or raw piece of land and later on develop it? It is important that you get the right advice before purchasing any undeveloped land so you can avoid running into problems when it is time to develop it. Here is a basic overview of what you need to know about prior to buying land.

Zoning regulations

Municipalities usually follow zoning regulations to govern the use of land and any development that may be performed on the land. This is done to ensure that property owners follow a planning process that will result in the attainment of a master plan over the long term. Usually, land is categorised into three sections: residential, commercial and industrial land. If you want to build a house on land meant for commercial or industrial development, you will not be given the necessary building permits because the construction would be illegal. If you go ahead with the construction work without the necessary permits, you may be forced to bring down when the relevant authorities catch up with you. Therefore, it makes good sense to get acquainted with zoning regulations in the area you want to purchase land so you do not face problems when it is time to develop it.

Soil type

Many people do not know it, but soil type has a very big say on land development. If you buy land that has poor drainage soil, you may experience serious structural integrity issues during the rainy days. Stormwater that is supposed to quickly permeate the ground may end up flooding your property for several days, rendering it inoperative. Likewise, if the soil is too loose/expansive, it might easily damage the foundation of your structures, resulting into safety concerns and costly repairs. Therefore, it is a good idea to engage the services of a soil testing expert so you can know if the soil in the land you want to purchase is suitable for your intended construction.

Site contamination

Signs of land contamination are not always obvious. The land you want to purchase and then develop may be contaminated and you have no clue about it. Before buying the land, it is important that you have it examined for possible contamination. If you overlook this step, it could cost you lots of dollars in cleanup costs before your municipal allows you to develop the site.

In residential land development projects, it is a good thing for the property owner to be knowledgeable about everything that is going on at the civil construction site. Property owner awareness can go a long way in ensuring the entire process goes smoothly.