A construction investment is a difficult and lengthy process. It should also be added that it is expensive. It all starts with the selection of a building plot and many things can go wrong at this stage. Geological and geotechnical services will allow us to avoid errors that can cost us dearly.
Building plot – check if it is really a building plot
There are many building plots on the real estate market. Their prices vary, of course, as do the area and location. In many cases, when starting the search, we may be surprised that many small plots are much more expensive than large plots and theoretically much more attractive.
A building plot can be sold for relatively little money, but we should not immediately jump to a seemingly great offer. First of all, we have to check whether the plot of land sold to us is in fact a building plot. Often they are just agricultural plots. There are big problems with de-agriculture now, so we can be left with a piece of land that is worthless from our point of view.
Before you buy a house plan, check the building conditions
If we already have a purchased plot of land and we are sure that it is an investment plot, we should buy a house project. Hand in hand with the purchase of a project, and in fact a step ahead of it, should be checking the building conditions or spatial development plan. These conditions define the rules on which we can build a house. In most cases, areas have a specific zoning plan, then we just have to inspect it and follow the guidelines. If, for example, a commune does not have a spatial development plan, then we must apply for individual development conditions. We should apply for this document first, before we buy the project, as the restrictions may in many cases exclude construction in accordance with the purchased project. You have to pay for the modifications, and as you know,
Do geotechnical research
We associate geological and geotechnical services with large construction sites, but even in the case of a relatively modest investment, such as the construction of a single-family house, they can be extremely helpful. It should be said that it is now good for the person or office willing to sell the plot to rent geological and geotechnical services, and to present the report to us before the purchase. This is especially true of more expensive plots. What can geological and geotechnical services show in their report?
The geotechnical report will first give us the bearing capacity of the soil. This parameter determines how deep the foundation must be, what technology we can use to build a house, etc. This obviously affects the price of construction, as building a foundation consumes a significant part of investment funds. The matter is even more serious when we want to build a basement.
Geological and geotechnical services, apart from the bearing capacity of the soil, will also determine the hydrological conditions. These can vary dramatically even in a relatively small area. The conclusion from such studies may be, for example, that although the plot looks dry, it is in fact located on a clay soil, which, even in the event of slight rainfall, will turn the soil into a quagmire. Of course, we do not have to give up such a plot, but its preparation for construction is labor-intensive and expensive. This type of report is also a good excuse to negotiate the price. The use of geological and geotechnical services should be standard.
Check if the plot is armed
Connecting basic utilities to our plot is also not always easy. Ideally, such a connection should already be there. If there is none, it is good to ask the power and water utility for a preliminary cost estimate for connecting the plot to the network. In the best case, the connection may amount to several thousand zlotys, in the worst case even several dozen.
Consider disposing of waste
If we have lived in the city all our life, it seems obvious to us that the sewage system is a basic element of any human settlement. Unfortunately, this is not the case in villages and in many suburban neighborhoods. In such a situation, we most often have to decide whether we want to build a septic tank or a home sewage treatment plant. The septic tank is simpler and much cheaper to build, but more expensive to operate, because it requires frequent emptying. The ecological treatment plant is its opposite. The more expensive construction will pay off with lower operating costs. Liquid waste can be safely drained to a drainage ditch or, for example, to a field, we only collect solid sediments, which accumulate for quite a long time.
Do we want solar panels?
If you intend to place solar panels on your roof, then you should keep this in mind while designing the house. It depends on which directions the house will face, and thus the roof and panels on it.
