A: Many sites, especially out of town, are considered recreational sites. These sites are not buildable which means they are not eligible for a building permit. It is essential that a buyer research this for themselves rather than allowing a realtor to offer assistance. In the end, the only one accountable if an error has been made is you.
A: Once you know the local jurisdiction will ALLOW you to build somewhere, it is time to bring in reinforcements. Most prospective home builders do not do this soon enough. An engineer should inspect the site with a contractor to determine the cost ofdrilling a well, installing a septic system (required to be designed and installed by licensed septic designers in WA state), running utilities, and locating the best site layout for the driveway and home site. Even on a subdivision lot with all city services, where you put the home and what style you go with should be determined before you buy the lot to ensure you are using your resources effectively and saving yourself a lot of disappointment in the future.
A: Not necessarily. A building permit requires professional-looking plans, but a draftsman can draw these up for you if you have a floorplan and home style in mind already. If not, you can talk to your engineer and contractor to develop a plan which is both attractive and convenient for the flow of daily life as well as cost-effective to build.
For a single-family residential home, you do not need fully engineered plans. You will need an engineer to design the load-bearing portions of the home, ie. roof trusses (often purchased in a pre-designed package with design calcs fromt he manufacturer), floor joists, foundation, and any particularly non-conforming aspect of the home such as a large weight-bearing interior post.
On rural lots, an engineer is also required to design the water system and septic system.
A: Permits are a necessity of construction and ensure that major construction projects are performed to the same basic standards no matter who is performing the work. A building permit for the construction of your new home will obviously be required. In addition to this, rural sites will also require a grading permit if a significant amount of soil will be moved. Water and septic systems require seperate permits. If your land is located near a water way, a hydraulic permit will be required for any work performed within the buffer region.
And the list goes on and on... each professional you hire to take on a specific project should be made aware that it is their responsibility to obtain any and all permits. Write this into your contract so you know that you aren't missing any minor details that could hault your progress midway.
A: Many people like to ask a friend, a neighbor, a nicely-dressed stranger rambling down the street...
But you should choose a contractor as you would any employee. Compile a list of prospects based on experience and ability, interview, and check references. Checking references is the most important step to making sure that you have a reliable professional working for you and not the makings of one fo the many horror stories we have all heard so many times. Not every contractor is out to get you- after all, they are just people working hard to make a living. With little effort, you will be able to find a builder who will look out for your interests, care about your project, and in whom you can safely place your trust.