A thoughtful reader asks, “Do you have any recommendations for resources when it comes to new home construction?” Let’s talk about that.
My wife and I moved into our current home seven years ago last week. We built this home with resiliency in mind. (At least I did; she focused more on aesthetics while I focused more on surviving grid down scenarios). We ended up with what I believe is one of the more resilient homes in our community. What steps can you take if you’re building a home to make your crib more zombie resistant?
I’m going to approach this topically.
And if I leave off your favorite house feature, it’s okay. No need to email me to point it out.
Property Selection
If you haven’t purchased the property yet, here are some things to consider.
Who will be your elected representatives? Specifically, who will be your city councilmember and your county commissioner? Who will be your mayor? Your state representative and senator? Your representative in Congress? Knowing who serves your area will tell you a lot about the attitudes and beliefs of your potential neighbors. Our elected officials reflect who we are. Find out who these people are and Google them.
If you want to live in a politically blue community or a red one, this step is a must.
How close are you to the nearest fire hydrant and fire station? That matters to some insurers. We have a fire station nearby. It’s not a bad feature.
What are the average response times for first responders? And how does that compare to the averages in other communities? While you’re at it, look at local crime rates.
What’s the water situation? Are you going to be on municipal water? If not, do you need to drill a well? If you’re drilling a well, how deep will you have to go and what’s the water quality of the well water? In my neighborhood, well drilling is very hit or miss. And expensive. Which is why we opted for a rainwater collection system for all of our water needs. Bathing, drinking, flushing – we use purified rainwater for everything. If you’re thinking about rainwater as a main source of water, you’ll need to ensure you’re buying property in an area receiving sufficient rainfall.
If you had to evacuate from the neighborhood rapidly, how easy would that be? Wildfires, chemical spills, floods and imminent lock downs – if you need to bail out of the crib, how quickly can you get out of your neighborhood?
Speaking of floods, is the property in a flood plain, and if so, which one? Do not – do not – rely upon your realtor or the seller to know the answer to that question. Find out from your lender and insurer. The flood maps are subject to change. If you’re not in a flood zone now, is there a realistic chance you will be put in one later? Depending on the flood risk, you may need to build higher to secure insurance and reduce the flood risk.
Speaking of wildfires and chemical spills, what’s around you that can blow up, catch fire, or otherwise damage your home? What’s around your home and neighborhood? If they light up, blow down, sink into the ground or are otherwise compromised, how would that impact your home?
What are the taxes like? Have an idea of what you’ll pay in property taxes before you buy and build.
Who are your neighbors? Go on the tax rolls (many counties have them on line) and get the names of the people living around the property. Google them. Look them up on social media. Are the posting crazy nonsense on Facebook? Are they tweeting out that people like you are terrible human beings who need to be canceled? Were they ever charged with violent crimes? Are they going to be angry with you for putting the wrong political sign in your yard? Find this out now.
What houses of worship are nearby? I assign some value to this because as a general rule, religious facilities make for good neighbors. Not only are they relatively quiet, but given their stated purpose, they focus on improving the lives of the people they serve. This often spills over into helping the community. Your local houses of worship will likely be pressed into service as help centers during larger crises. Having one nearby – even if you’re not of that particular faith – may be an asset.
