When you're planning on having a new home built, you may know all the interior features you want for that home, including kitchen appliances, timber floors, and so on. However, thinking about the land and how your property will be developed may not have occurred to you, or it may not come up in conversation with your builder. Note why working with a land developer when in the planning stages for a new home can be a very good idea, and how it can even save you money over the lifetime of home ownership.

Shade trees and vegetation

If your home will be in a very sunny area, the location of shade trees and vegetation can actually make a difference when it comes to your utility bills. Shade from tall, mature trees can keep your entire home cool, and tall vegetation planted next to your home can also help block out the heat of the sun. In turn, your air conditioner may run more efficiently and your home may be more comfortable overall.

Watering the garden

Most residential lots are slightly sloped or graded toward the street, so that moisture doesn't collect around a home's foundation and cause damage. However, if you're planning a garden of any size, you may want to slope the ground of your new property toward that area, so that your plants have plenty of water around the roots. This can cut down on the amount of fresh water you use for watering your new garden and ensure a healthy crop every season.

Planning outdoor features

If you want to include a pool, a water feature such as a waterfall or fish pond, an oversized shed or barn, or any other such features outside your new home, it's good to work with a land developer before any construction begins. They can note, for example, if underground pipes may interfere with those plans, and if you would need to reconsider the location of any outdoor feature.

Also, a land developer may see that the soil is very soft and wouldn't support your planned outbuilding. If you know that you would need to add lime to the soil to make it strong enough to support that barn, as an example, you may rethink its construction completely, and this may affect your plans for the home design itself. Rather than assuming you can add whatever outdoor features you want after your home is built, work with a land developer while you're still having the plans prepared so you know what work would be involved to install those features.