Buying a property is usually a decision that will last for many years and decades. So that you can feel comfortable in your future dream home for a long time, the associated property must also be suitable. A very crucial criterion for this is the location of the property. Does it face south or southwest, or can the planned home be oriented that way? This offers not only plenty of sunlight during life, but also the best conditions for the solar system or photovoltaic system on the roof. The north orientation, however, promises a lot of shade and is not for everyone.
What is the layout of the property? A very tortuous property imposes constraints on buildability and the impact of the house on the land. A rectangular plot of land is ideal. Also pay attention to unwanted shading of the planned house by tall trees and nearby buildings.
Depending on the type of house you want, the property should have a certain minimum size. For a terraced house, 250 square meters are enough. The spacious detached city villa, however, requires at least 1,000 square meters of land to appear representative. Remember that space is also needed for the garage and that distances from neighboring properties must be maintained.
CONSTRUCABILITY CHECK
What exactly is allowed to build on a piece of land is regulated by the development plan available from the municipality concerned. The aim is to ensure that the picture of residential areas or entire neighborhoods is as uniform as possible. A look at the development plan shows whether the planned dream house can be built in the desired size and height or whether, for example, a certain building window or a certain roof shape limits the constructability so that your ideas cannot be realized. The eligibility of annexes is also regulated in the development plan. This gives you planning security and discover exactly what is possible on a property.
If you have any doubts, your regional construction partner will be happy to help you. Through a preliminary construction request you can clarify whether the house of your dreams can be built in all details on the desired property.
DETERMINE THE CONSISTENCY OF THE SOIL
The condition of the land also plays an important role in the evaluation of building land. Rocky terrain, a slope or unstable soil can quickly increase the foundation costs of your planned home by a five-figure amount. The height of the water table is also important, especially for a house designed with a basement. Increased construction costs may need to be taken into account for adequate moisture protection in the basement.
Only a soil report can provide reliable information about the nature of the soil. If it is not available, you must carry out a proper land survey with the consent of the seller before purchasing the property. Depending on the characteristics of the property and the extent of the investigation, the land survey costs between 1,000 and 2,500 euros. You will still need it for the subsequent construction of the house. In this sense the money is in no way spent in vain. Either the land report gives you security and fits into your home construction costs or it saves you from making a costly mistake.
The soil report also provides information on possible contaminated sites and soil contamination. Caution is advised if the property previously housed a factory or landfill. Get the seller of the property to assure you in the notarized sales contract that the property is free from old buildings and construction encumbrances.
CHECK INFRASTRUCTURE AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
Before purchasing a property you should find out whether the desired infrastructure is available in the property you have chosen, such as connection to local public transport, medical care, local shops, proximity to secondary schools or the length of the future commute to work. The recreational value of the area (proximity to a playground, swimming pool or cultural facilities) should also match your expectations.
Visit the property at different times of the day and on different days of the week to find out whether, for example, street, sports or restaurant noises disturb the supposed peace of your future property. It is also useful to consult the municipality’s master plan. Is a ring road planned near the property or will the view of the countryside soon be blocked by a new building?
If the property has not yet been developed, it is necessary to ask the relevant municipality to clarify whether the development is actually planned and whether the seller has already paid all development costs, for example for connection to the sewer system and the nearest road, or whether these costs are still borne by the buyer of the property.
VIEW LAND REGISTRATION
The property register provides information on who owns a property and whether the property is subject to mortgages, land charges or pre-emption rights. But it is also possible to register easements (e.g. rights of way or electricity lines) and residential rights in the land register. They must be checked and cleared before purchasing the property.
The property’s standard land value serves as a guideline for the appropriateness of the asking purchase price. In each municipality it is possible to view the corresponding map of land values drawn up by the committee of experts. This way you can be sure that you don’t pay too high a price per square meter for your dream property.
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