Use this before
Use this before comparing construction prices. A building price becomes more useful after wastewater, water, power, access, grading, drainage, and difficult soil conditions are visible in the site scope.
Wastewater and water
- Identify the wastewater authorityAsk whether the property uses public sewer or onsite wastewater and which state, county, city, or district office controls approval.
- Complete the required site evaluationUse the authority's current process and registered professionals where required. Keep the proposed and replacement absorption areas protected.
- Match wastewater design to actual useShare bedroom count, occupancy, water-using fixtures, shop uses, and future additions with the wastewater designer and authority.
- Confirm public water or well pathRecord provider, meter or well location, service route, capacity, pressure, connection work, testing, and any owner-supplied trenching or equipment.
- Coordinate crossings and separationShow wastewater, water, electric, gas, communications, drives, drainage, and building work together before trenching starts.
Electric, gas, and communications
- Get a utility field reviewAsk the provider to identify the likely transformer, pole, meter, or service point and any required easement, clearing, conduit, trench, or customer equipment.
- Measure routesUse planned route lengths rather than straight-line guesses. Include road crossings, rock, depth, bends, equipment access, and restoration.
- Confirm load and capacityShare home size, HVAC, water heating, ranges, welders, large motors, EV charging, and future outbuildings when requesting service capacity.
- Assign responsibilitiesWrite down who supplies trenching, conduit, pads, wire, meter base, inspections, backfill, testing, and final connection for each provider.
Access, drainage, and grading
- Confirm legal and physical accessVerify recorded access and the road authority. Check entrance permits, culverts, sight distance, slope, width, turning, overhead clearance, and seasonal conditions.
- Plan construction trafficProvide room for concrete trucks, pumps, truss or frame deliveries, cranes when needed, dumpsters, material storage, worker parking, and emergency vehicles.
- Read existing drainageMark ridges, swales, ditches, culverts, low areas, neighboring runoff, pond overflow, and erosion. Visit during or after heavy rain when possible.
- Set finished-floor and finish-grade conceptsCoordinate the building elevation, positive drainage, driveway slope, door thresholds, porches, patios, septic, and utility entries before final earthwork pricing.
- Quantify earthwork assumptionsSeparate clearing, stripping, cut, fill, imported material, compaction, rock, haul-off, retaining, erosion control, seeding, and final grading.
- Protect completed systemsKeep heavy equipment, stockpiles, sediment, and drainage changes away from wells, wastewater areas, utilities, trees marked for protection, and finished improvements.
Official sources
Open the current agency or technical source before making a property, design, or permit decision.