01/18/2012
Building tip of the Day: If you are buying a home to tear down and rebuild in Los Angeles please consider the following: Assessing a plot of land
Here are tips from the National House Building Council (NHBC) on assessing a plot of land.
Before you buy a plot of land, make sure that it holds valid outline planning permission. But remember - planning permission does not mean that building will actually be possible. Land with consent can have restrictive covenants which may limit what you can do with the land. If the site lies above mineworks or old tunnels, then building on the land might well be expensive.
Organise a site appraisal of the land. This will assess the suitability of the land for building on, and will include evidence of potential problems of previous use, such as old foundations, wells, tipping operations, and so on.
Consider buying a plot of land that already contains a run-down building and then constructing a replacement dwelling. Although the initial cost of the site might be higher than an empty plot, you may benefit from existing access to services such as highways, electricity and gas. Mains drainage and water supply may be in place, which will save you significant sums of money.
Before you begin to spend any money or employ any contractors, turn yourself into an expert. Get as much information as you can about all aspects of self building by carrying out research. The more you know, the less likely you are to slip up.
