Page 23 - Al Brown Newsletter

Q What should be the most The location of the site within a neighborhood.

& V buying a building site? Location of the neighborhood within the
Does it give you the privacy you may seek? What
important consideration when
about light pollution from streetlights, traffic, or a
cell tower?

Over the years, I have helped hundreds and hundreds
community at large. Do you want the energy,
of people buy land, mostly single-family building sites.
vibe and activity of a higher density area or do
These same factors apply to a home purchase. Oftentimes,
you prefer privacy? The issue of traffic is not to
be forgotten either.
a buyer sees a site with pretty trees and says: “That’s the
one!” But, I walk them through a number of other factors
trends? Is commercial encroachment headed
that must be considered. Here are some of them:
this way.
The #1 enemy of a lot or house is water. Zoning as to the site and nearby. What are the
With Al Brown Therefore, drainage and elevation come into play. The life stage of the neighborhood.
For drainage, look at the subject site and also the Neighborhoods (and cities, too, for that matter)
adjoining properties. Are they draining toward go through three cycles: growth, stabilization,
the “dream lot?” Look also at the street drainage. decline. I’ve seen some complete the cycle in a
Another Successful Year: And, are wetlands present on the site? very short time, others take a long, long time and
get settled into one stage. Warning signs in the
GETTING TO Elevation – while everything to the untrained eye neighborhood: unkempt yards and houses, an
looks flat in Glynn County, we do have elevation,
abundance of rental houses, foreclosures.
subtle as it may be, but very important. A foot
KNOW YOUR or two can make a big difference. The bigger Value trends of neighborhoods. (See above and
consult with your Realtor.)
question: Is it a low lot? Ask for the elevation of
BROKER the finished grade. It will be given to you in MSL Covenants. Are there deed restrictions and
(Mean Sea Level).
enforcement of architectural standards? Too little
Your preferred exposure. Is it Westerly? Easterly? or too much restriction can be a negative.
By exposure, I mean the direction the back of the Lot size. Is the site suitable and large enough to
house faces. After all, the rear of the property is build within the setback area and for your home
where you spend most of your time outside. To size maintaining a sense of scale and proportion?
stress the importance of this factor, let’s take, Easements. Are there utility or drainage access or
for example, a marsh front site. If the house has other easements impacting the site? Get a survey
a westerly exposure, and you are living here full and title work before closing.
time, you know how hot July, August and part of
September are. That afternoon sun, at times, can Get a survey, topo and tree location.
be unbearable, thus rendering your activities on Utilities. Is there public sewer, or is a septic tank
the deck, terrace or pool very uncomfortable. This system required? Public water? Gas? Cable TV?
is when “sun management” comes into play with
the use of wide overlaps, porches, tree canopy to Is there a Private Club involved? Check out
provide as much shade as possible. An easterly financial stability.
exposure for this same house doesn’t have this Trees – their type and condition. Do you lose the
problem since the house itself provides a sun most important one(s) in the building envelope?
blocker. A point to consider: If you primarily In the end, I ask: What is most important to you?
only spend winters here, you welcome the What is your deal breaker? Okay, now let’s go put
warmth of a westerly exposure. our boots on and do some walking.

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