Choosing Where to Build
Location, location, location! It’s the real estate agents’ mantra. You’ve probably heard the phrase before. The saying is repeated three times for emphasis, and it is the number one rule in real estate, while also the most overlooked. The same can be said for new construction.
To get the most out of your building investment, where you build is often as important as how you build. When selecting the site for your building, it’s wise to have a list of criteria for considering an ideal site. In PBS’ Planning Guide, we walk you through that process in a section called: “Review Your Company’s Building Needs”. It continues with “Choosing the Right Location”. In this article, we will walk you through 5 areas to consider when choosing a building site.
Access to Transportation and Shipping
How far are you from the nearest airport, railroad or major highway? If your business is primarily involved in the transportation of goods, these points will make a difference in your future productivity. You may also want to consider the degree of difficulty your team will face in commuting to your new location.
Range of Local Employment Resources
If the nature of your business is such that you must frequently re-staff or hire seasonal support, you’ll need to take a careful look at the labor pool available in your new location.
Determine Utility Infrastructure, Building Codes and Zoning Requirements
Each city, county and state has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to overseeing the business sector. Some could save your organization money and/or time, while others may present a potential headache for you. Plan on doing a thorough investigation of these areas before you commit to any property. PBS, by having experience in knowing the right questions to ask can help you through this.
Determine Parking Requirements
When planning the position of the building on your site, consider allowable access from the nearest street or highway, as well as allocation of parking space. If your property is on an irregular plot, try incorporating parking and storage on the irregular side if it is consistent with the topography of your site or on the low point of your property. This will allow for proper drainage and free up the high ground for building construction.
Determine the Load-Bearing Capacity of the Soil
You will need to arrange for sub-soil investigation by a professional testing laboratory to see if it will accommodate your building plans. In addition, it is critical to determine the past history of the site and to determine if significant top soil or fill issues are present that will need to be removed. PBS can help you with this.
To learn the other areas of consideration when choosing a building site as well as questions to ask when planning for a new facility, please request our FREE Planning Guide. PBS is experienced in the planning, design and construction of many different types of facilities including a portfolio of successful commercial, industrial, church and municipal projects. If you have any questions please contact our design-build team at 855.672.4010 or click here. We look forward to serving you.
