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Tips on Buying Land ::

These tips are primarily for people looking to buy land to build on.

An ideal location for a house is partway up the slope of rolling land, open to the south, partially protected on the east and west, and sheltered from the north. In the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui, which concerns environmental energy flows, this house site is called the "armchair" placement.

Look to place the house near the edge of two different environments — close to the top of a slope where it starts to level out, or where vegetation changes (from meadow to woods say). Homes have always been built in such transition zones.

Build on dry, well-drained soil with no history of flooding or instability. Don't build in a low spot — water and cold dead air will collect there.

Don't build too close to the road. Money spent on a longer drive is a good investment in privacy and leads to higher resale value.

Build a curve into the entry drive even if a straight one would be shorter. This will give variety to the entry process, increase privacy and make the property feel larger.

On a non-view site, clearing to the south of the house will bring in the sun. Your large window areas can then face this south view and focus on the landscaping and activities of this outdoor area.

Where specific rooms are located and how they relate to each other becomes clear when you know the answer to three questions:

• "Where's the View?" (What do I want to see from this room?)
• "Where's the Sun?" (When will I be in this room and do I want the sun to be there as well? IE: Kitchen in the SE.)
• "How do people get here?" (Where do they first see the house? Where do they park? How do they find the door? How do they move through the house?)

You will also find that rooms work best when laid out on a privacy gradiant from social to private.

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