STEP 1: LOCATION CONFIRMATION
STEP 2: SLY BUY OR SKILLED BUILD?
Last year, Noël McLaren, News 10 ABC’s weekend evening news anchor, and her husband Robert, were married and began searching for a house that they could build into a home.
It was late spring when Noël and Robert went out cruising the streets in his classic car. “It was just by accident, we happened upon this one,” she said of a lot of land in a Saratoga Springs neighborhood that caught her eye.
Their first important decision was something they agreed on; they wanted to live in the Saratoga region.
As a witness to her parents’ experience having a house built, she’d heard both their success, and their horror stories. It was valuable information that many people entering into the process don’t have.
While they liked many of the houses they looked at, there were still changes to be made. “Once we figured in those changes, the price started to add up,” said Noël.
“The most common mistake people make is being undereducated on the entire process,” said Dave Trojanski of Bonacio Construction, Inc.
30 | SARATOGA HOME & LIFESTYLE 2017
Determine What the Lot IS and What it IS NOT: Before deciding that a lot of land is the right one for you, there are three important things to consider, said Dave. • Proximity to Neighbors: Whether you want to live in a city, or further on the outskirts, consider how close you’ll be to your neighbors once the house you imagine is built. Do you want to be in a neighborhood or on a separate plot? • What amenities are there? How will you get water? Does (or will) the plot have sewer access or a septic system for waste? What about electric and energy options? Will the house have gas or a propane tank? • Deed Restrictions and HOA Fees: What can you have on your property? Are there guidelines for accessory buildings, grounds keeping, fencing, etc.? Does the neighborhood require fees? saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com