How to choose a suitable land for home

HOW TO CHOOSE A SUITABLE LAND/ PLOT FOR HOME or, FOR INVESTMENT

Investment in land is considered as the best investment in comparison to other asset classes. Price of land never decreases; it increases at steady rate. A simple logic is that we cannot make our planet bigger by stretching. The habitable land in the planet is limited. It won't increase, rather it will decrease. Because, environment pollution, global warming, climate change - these issues are becoming big challenges to every country, and to combat these issues many countries are expanding its forest base, thus the habitable area is decreasing. Not only that, population will increase in future and demand of food grains will also increase too. Hence the cultivation land will increase, leaving less habitable land area for future, so demand of habitable land will increase manyfold. That's why the land will emerge as a best destination for investment. 

All land will not give return at the same rate. The value of land depends on many factors. To get the maximum return on investment the following should be kept in mind:

1. SHAPE OF LAND.
2. SIZE OF LAND.
3. LOCATION OF LAND.
4. POSITION OF LAND.
5. WIDTH OF ROAD IN FRONT OF LAND.

SHAPE OF LAND:

Square shaped lands are the most suitable for home but it is not always available as we desire. The following choices of shapes are acceptable:

SIZE OF LAND:

Minimum size of land for residential home should not be less than 900 square feet. Less than 900 sq.ft. area home planning becomes difficult. After leaving mandatory open spaces for septic tank, underground water reservoir and drainage system etc., the remaining land hardly can be used for a 2 BHK duplex. More area of land gives more comfortable living and better home planning.

LOCATION OF LAND (RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL):

Land's locations should be such that the following facilities are available nearby (within 3 to 5km) :

• Nearest to local market.
• Nearest to Govt. / Private Hospitals.
• Nearest to School / College / University
• Nearest to Playground / Park.
• Nearest to Local Police Station.
• Nearest to Post Office / Banks.
• Nearest to Municipality.
• Nearest to Main Road / Bus Stop.
• Nearest to Railway Station / Airport.

NOTE: Land should be avoided below the High Tension Transmission Line.

POSITION OF LAND:

• Land should be on firm and solid ground. Firm-solid ground have higher soil bearing capacity. It helps to reduce foundation cost of the home or any other structure to be built on it. 
• Land should not be ditches or low land / filled up land by garbage. Because of less bearing capacity of soil needs heavy foundation thus higher cost and more chances of building settlement, tilting of building, cracks in building etc.
• Land should be high enough with the nearest road level. More low than road level means land is to be filled by earth and hence extra cost for filling and consolidation.
• Should be well drained land during monsoon. Otherwise water logging may damage building foundation and cause cracks in building.

ROAD WIDTH IN FRONT OF THE LAND:

• Land should fetch at least 12'0" wide road. It helps to enter the big vehicle nearest to the plot.
• Corner plots bounded by two roads are more suitable. As it provides two different entry point and home on this type of land looks beautiful and greater open sides provides good ventilation and light.
• Lands bounded by three / four sides are good for commercial purposes. As land can be access from different side, it finds easy inter for big vehicles. Building's ground floor can be used for shops or commercial purposes.

For example, in the sketch the suitable land for residential and commercial purposes are explained:

• Plot no. 1, 4, 7, 10 are good for residential purposes.
• Plot no. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 15 are best for residential purposes.
• Plot no. 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 are best for commercial cum residential purposes.

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Green Environment

Hi, I’m Gobinda Burman (Green Environment). More than 27 years in the field of Building Construction industry, I’ve completed many high-rise building projects successfully. I have got the opportunity to learn and solve the critical practical problems related to building construction. I love to share my knowledge with those people who wants to build their own home and the budding civil engineers willing to build their career in this field..

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