www.bluhomes.com | San Francisco | Boston | build@bluhomes.com | 1.866.887.7997

As you begin your search for a home site, we are happy to offer you some basic information

to guide you on your land search. If you have more in depth questions, please do not

hesitate to reach out to your sales associate for further guidance.

Blu Homes can generally set a home anywhere a typical stick-built home can be built and

our homes perform better in a variety of conditions thanks to our durable steel frames. 

Below you can find an outline of some of the variables that affect site costs. One of our

Blu project managers will visit your site before you close the deal to ensure we can deliver.

Will Your Blu Home Fit on the Land?

You need to ensure that your Blu home will fit on the home site you are selecting. When

you have found a potential lot, we can help you create a site sketch that takes into

account the width of the lot and regulated planning department setbacks.

What Other Costs Are there to Consider?

Besides the cost of the land itself, taxes and closing costs, your Blu sales associate and

site contractor will help you estimate and identify:

u Proximity and cost of utilities:

− Sewer, water, electric, gas and septic systems will require permitting and construction

u The cost and extent of site work. Steeply sloped lots increase the site work costs significantly

u Pre-site work (excavation, blasting, and grading)

u Environmentally-restricted areas like wetlands, conservation, or coastal lands

u Access to the site for delivery and installation

land selection

www.bluhomes.com | San Francisco | Boston | build@bluhomes.com | 1.866.887.7997

What Resources Should You Request?We recommend that you request the following resources from the seller before you put an offer on the land.

u Boundary survey that contains property lines, setbacks, contours (topo map), location of utilities (water, sewer, electrical, septic restrictions) and environmental restrictions (wetlands, conservation land, etc)

u Soils Report (if applicable) will detail geology and seismic data so a structural engineer can determine necessary foundation requirements

u Planning Dept. Regulations (using your site’s Assessor Parcel Number or ‘APN#’)

u Find out if your local jurisdiction requires Design Review, Historical Review, etc. from the local building department

u Photographs of your site in .jpg format

What about Teardowns?Many Blu clients opt to purchase a site with a home to be torn down. Be sure to get all of the same information you would get if you were purchasing vacant land!

Convenience Factors:

u Utility connections (electric, gas, water, sewer) will already be in place

u Sometimes you are able to reuse existing septic systems

u Teardowns are often available in established neighborhoods and school districts that often do not have vacant land available

u Require less hardscaping and land remediation

Costs:

It usually costs from $6.00 to $10.00 per square foot to demolish a home. Ask a local demolition company for a quote. Some of the cost drivers:

u Presence of harmful materials like asbestos adds $2.00-$3.00 psf (EPA requires proper abatement)

u Landfill and hauling fees for the debris

u Building materials of the house (concrete and durable materials like brick increase demolition costs)

Blu‘s durable steel framed homes require very robust foundations. The foundation of your teardown will be removed and replaced with a specifically designed foundation that matches the incredible strength of your home.

Salvage:

Your teardown can be green! Habitat for Humanity or other charity organizations will often recycle some of the materials to use in their construction projects. A charitable tax deduction may be available in return for salvaged building supplies.