THE TYPE OF LAND ON WHICH OUR HOUSE IS LOCATED:
The composition of the soil will determine the type of foundation of our house and the complexities that may occur in the process of excavation of basements, swimming pools or foundations. Therefore, it is advisable to request a geotechnical study before purchasing land. A bad soil with resistant layers of less than 0.5 Kg/cm can mean an increase of up to 15% in the total cost of the house.
THE EXISTING VEGETATION ON THE PLOT:
The existing vegetation on the plot is a point to be taken into account either for its use in the urbanization of the plot or to avoid the felling of protected trees and thus avoid paying administrative penalties.
In the event that we want to maintain the location of a tree on the plot, we must maintain a reasonable distance between the building and the tree to prevent the roots from affecting our foundation.
SUNLIGHT ON THE PLOT:
We will always prioritize that the longest side of the plot has a south orientation, so we will be able to capture more solar radiation. If the plot is not flat, the best scenario to consider is that the slope should be inclined towards the south to prevent the slope itself from hindering solar gain.
Another point to take into account is the surroundings of the plot, having large buildings, hills or large vegetation in the surroundings will influence our sunlight, generating shadows that will have to be taken into account in the positioning of the building. The sun is very important for solar gain, but be careful, it is also important to design small shaded areas to provide some relief on hot summer days.
ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PLOT AND TO THE SUPPLY NETWORKS:
An accessible and well-connected site will facilitate construction work and reduce the costs associated with transporting materials and other supplies. It is also important to investigate and be informed of future urban infrastructure projects that may affect our plot or its surroundings.
At the same time, we must verify that our plot will have access to supply networks to supply our home. We refer to the supply of electricity, water and the possibility of connection to a sewerage network. If the plot or land for future construction has the connections already prepared, the conditions will be better for the construction of the project and the cost of construction will be lower.
SIZE AND URBAN PLANNING REGULATIONS:
To obtain information about the regulations that apply to our plot, it is best to go to the corresponding City Hall or consult with an architectural firm such as CRONOTOPOS to see the possibilities offered by the area of land in which you would be interested.
It must be taken into account that a large plot does not always go hand in hand with the possibility of building a very large house, it depends on what the ordinance that affects our plot establishes. Another situation that can occur is that the plot is affected by some kind of easement, which would limit our options when building and taking advantage of the entire surface of the plot.
As you can see, there are several conditions to take into account when choosing a plot. Therefore, we encourage you to contact our study CRONOTOPOS both in Zaragoza and Alicante from the beginning for the execution of your future home and thus have an overview of the advantages and disadvantages that have each of the land you are valuing.
Written by Diego Chueca Casado, published by Cronotopos