Choosing a

building site CREATED BY SINOKIA LEE

Factors
➔ soil
➔ zoning
➔ topography
➔ prospect
➔ environment
➔ aspect
➔ accessibility
➔ location
➔ availability of facilities
➔ size
➔ history
➔ climate
SOIL
The type of soil is the core factor of holding the foundation of the house. Therefore, you
ought to know the type of soil and its ability to hold the foundation of your house. It is
commonly known that moist and loose soils will not be the best to hold house
foundations. Compact soils are the best for building a house. Clay and rocky soils will
need specialized attention to preparing them for construction before it is commenced.
TOPOGRAPHY
The topography of a site refers to the various rises and the falls of every part of the land
you intend to construct the house on. The various topographies will be used to serve
various purposes, for instance, the drainage, garden, and pool amongst other factors.
The topography of the site will determine the flow of water, and you would not like your
house to be caught in the middle of midstream flowing water. Topography factor will
help you to get the most suitable position to construct the house.
ENVIRONMENT
The factor to consider with the environment of the house is whether it should be retained or
it should be changed. The change should always have a positive effect on the site.This
means that areas that heavily forested should be considered, to remove some trees to create
some space for the construction of the house. Also, other environmental factors to consider
include hills or mountains that will block the sunlight from getting to your house. These are
some of the changes that the site should undergo to make it best for construction.
ACCESSIBILITY
For the massive construction of buildings, you will need to consider the accessibility
of heavy trucks that bring in and out various materials and debris. Such areas should
allow accessibility of various types of vehicles and materials.
COST
Cost effective construction practices exist if you take the time to do your research with the
bids you’re receiving. Other than building costs, did your examination of the physical
characteristics of the site reveal hidden costs to construction that could drive up the price?
Income tax, sales tax, and property tax rates vary from state to state and even city to city.
You might have two construction sites selected at this point, so which one has friendlier
taxes from a business perspective? Government economic incentives can also play a major
role when choosing a building location. Local governments often provide economic
incentives to lure businesses to specific regions. Will your business meet the requirements
for any small business loans or tax breaks for choosing one building site over another?
 AVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES
The plot should be in a locality where the various facilities as mentioned below are
available.

•Community services such as police and fire protection, clearing of waste and street
cleaning

•Utility services such as water supply, gas, electricity, and drainage

•Amenities such as schools, hospitals, libraries, recreation, telephone, etc

•Shopping facilities

•Means of transportation
ZONING
Review the zoning ordinances of the locale, both local and county, to ensure your
current and future uses will be allowed.
ASPECT
Legal Aspects - Another thing to consider when picking a building site is the local laws
or ordinances enacted in the area. For instance, there are places where construction of
buildings do not go beyond seven or eight in the evening.

Financial Aspects - The financial capacity of the project owner is still the number one
priority. The building construction cost, the salary, the resources, and the management
of the establishment is under the supervision of the head office. Thus, everything
should be in line with the allotted budget.
LOCATION
The location of the site should be such as to ensure unobstructed natural light and air.
Your location needs will vary depending on what kind of business you operate. If you’re
a retail business that depends on visibility and easy access for walk-in customers, you’ll
likely want to be located near neighborhoods, work and schools, perhaps in a
downtown or city center area.
LOCATION
If you’re primarily manufacturing, you’ll want to be in an area that has easy access to the
type of transportation and infrastructure you need to get goods in and out of the plant.
You may also want to consider whether there is additional room on the site for future
expansion.
SIZE
Area of the plot of land should be such that the house constructed, keeping in view the
restrictions of the local authority, would meet the requirements of the owner, preferably
with possibilities of future extensions. The site should not be irregular in shape or
having any sharp corners.
CLIMATE
Sun, wind, rain, temperature and humidity will all influence your enjoyment of a
property, so it’s important to think about these factors when choosing a building site.