Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

Building a custom home on your own land is not as simple as picking a floor plan and digging in. Whether you're working with raw acreage in Wayne County or a tucked-away lot in Ontario County, the first and most critical step in the process is the site evaluation. A proper site evaluation looks beneath the surface, literally and figuratively. It helps you and your builder understand the unique features (and limitations) of the land so that your home can be placed, designed, and built efficiently, within budget.

Gerber Homes has walked hundreds of properties across Upstate New York. We've seen everything from dream lots with hidden challenges to tricky terrain that became the perfect homesite with the right plan. We're honored to walk you through exactly what happens during a site evaluation and how it helps set the stage for a successful build.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Site Evaluation and Why Does It Matter?
• Who Performs the Site Evaluation?
• What Gerber Homes Looks for During a Site Walk
• How the Site Evaluation Affects Your Budget and Timeline
• What Happens If the Site Isn’t Ideal?
• When Should You Schedule a Site Evaluation?
• Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building on Your Own Land
• Ready to Build on Land in Upstate NY? Start with a Site Evaluation

What Is a Site Evaluation and Why Does It Matter?

A site evaluation is a detailed inspection of the land where you plan to build your home. It's a technical and strategic review of everything that could affect your build: from the slope of the land and soil conditions to zoning regulations, access to utilities, and potential development costs.

Your land comes with constraints and opportunities that directly impact:

• The design of your home

• The cost of building it

• The timeline for construction

• And whether your plans are even permitted in the first place

For example, a property with a steep grade may require costly excavation or retaining walls. A lot without public sewer access may need a septic system, which brings its own permitting and soil test requirements. These are the kinds of surprises that a site evaluation helps you avoid.

In short: a good site evaluation protects your investment. It ensures you’re making informed decisions, aligning your vision with the reality of the land, and setting realistic expectations for your home build, especially when you’re beginning to map out ideas and explore resources like our custom home guide that help clarify what the full process looks like from the start.

Who Performs the Site Evaluation?

A site evaluation is most effective when it’s performed by the people who will actually be building your home. While surveyors, engineers, and municipalities all play important roles later in the process, your custom home builder should be involved from the very beginning.

At Gerber Homes, site evaluations are part of how we help homeowners make smart decisions early, before plans are finalized and sometimes before land is ever purchased. Because we’ve been building custom homes throughout Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and other counties in the Greater Rochester area for decades, we understand how dramatically site conditions can change from town to town, and even lot to lot.

Local experience matters here. Each municipality has its own zoning rules, setback requirements, and permitting expectations. Soil conditions in a rural Wayne County lot can be very different from those in a suburban Monroe County neighborhood. Having a builder who already knows what to look for, and what questions to ask, can save weeks of time and thousands of dollars down the road.

What Gerber Homes Looks for During a Site Walk

When we walk a property with a homeowner, we’re evaluating far more than just whether the land is “buildable.” We’re looking at how the land will affect your home’s design, budget, and long-term enjoyment.

Topography and Grading

Is the lot flat, gently sloped, or steep? The natural contours of the land influence everything from foundation design to drainage planning. Sloped lots can offer beautiful views, but they may also require additional excavation, grading, or retaining walls.

Soil Conditions

Soil type plays a major role in foundation construction and septic system feasibility. In areas without public sewer, soil testing is essential to determine whether a septic system can be installed and where it can be located on the property.

Utilities and Services

We evaluate access to:

• Public water or well potential

• Public sewer or septic requirements

• Electric service proximity

• Natural gas availability (or alternatives like propane)

Zoning, Setbacks, and Local Regulations

Every town has specific rules that determine where and how a home can be built. We look at zoning classifications, required setbacks, easements, and any environmental restrictions that could limit the home’s footprint or placement.

Access and Driveway Considerations

A site needs safe, practical access, not just for everyday living, but also for construction equipment and materials. Driveway length, slope, and visibility all factor into the evaluation.

Environmental Factors

Wetlands, floodplains, tree ordinances, and stormwater management requirements can all affect what’s allowed on a property. These considerations are especially important in rural and lake-adjacent areas throughout Upstate New York.

How the Site Evaluation Affects Your Budget and Timeline

One of the most important benefits of a site evaluation is that it helps uncover potential costs and timeline issues before construction begins. Many homeowners assume a piece of land is ready to build on, only to encounter unexpected development expenses that significantly affect their overall budget.

Budget Considerations

The characteristics of your land will directly impact construction costs. Some of the most common issues that can affect your budget include:

• Significant grading or excavation requirements

• Soil conditions that require engineered foundations or soil stabilization

• Long or steep driveways that require additional material or work

• Utility access issues, such as the need to bring in electric lines, gas, or water

• Septic system challenges that require specialized design or testing

Two lots may appear similar in price, but one could cost tens of thousands more to prepare for building. Identifying those differences early allows you to plan accordingly and set a realistic construction budget.

For most custom home projects, we recommend including a contingency of 10 to 15 percent of your overall budget to account for site-specific adjustments or unforeseen issues that may arise once development begins.

Timeline Considerations

Site conditions can also affect how quickly you can begin building. For example:

• Properties that require soil testing or septic system design will take longer to permit

• Lots with trees or rock may require time-consuming clearing or excavation

• Local zoning requirements or wetland reviews can add weeks to the pre-construction process

• Bringing utilities to a site may require coordination with outside providers, adding further delays

What Happens If the Site Isn’t Ideal?

Not every lot is ready for immediate construction. That’s exactly why a site evaluation is so valuable; it gives you the opportunity to fully understand a property before making design decisions or major financial commitments.

If we identify challenges during the evaluation, there are typically several paths forward.

Adjusting the Home Plan

In many cases, we can modify the home’s design to fit the site’s conditions. This might involve:

• Rotating or repositioning the home to avoid topographical issues or protect existing trees

• Designing a walkout basement to work with sloped land

• Adjusting the home’s footprint to meet zoning or setback requirements

Improving the Land

If the lot has potential but needs work, we may recommend specific site improvements, such as:

• Grading for better drainage

• Clearing trees or brush

• Excavating or blasting rock

• Preparing a driveway or utility trench

Choosing a Different Lot

In some cases, the most practical decision is to look for another property. Whether the site has excessive permitting restrictions, high development costs, or accessibility issues, our team will be honest about the long-term implications. We can assist you in evaluating other land options throughout Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and other Greater Rochester counties, and help you find one that aligns better with your vision and budget. especially if you’re exploring available land and private lots for sale and want to compare possibilities before committing.

When Should You Schedule a Site Evaluation?

The best time to schedule a site evaluation is before you purchase land. If you already own land, a site evaluation is your next critical step. It’s how we begin aligning your vision for the home with the physical realities of the land.

Gerber Homes offers site evaluations as part of our custom homebuilding process in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties. Whether you’re just starting to explore options or are ready to build, we’re here to help you make smart decisions early.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building on Your Own Land

Building a custom home on land you own comes with a unique set of responsibilities and risks. Here are some of the most common (and costly) mistakes we help homeowners avoid:

1. Purchasing Land Without a Builder’s Input

It’s easy to fall in love with a property for its views or location, but without a builder’s perspective, you may overlook major development challenges like poor soil, steep grading, or zoning limitations. Always walk the land with a builder before you buy.

2. Underestimating Site Development Costs

Buyers often focus on the price of the land itself but forget to factor in the cost of getting the lot ready for construction. Clearing, grading, septic installation, and utility connections can add significant expense to the project. A site evaluation helps surface these costs early.

3. Assuming All Land Is Buildable

Just because a parcel is for sale doesn’t mean it’s build-ready. Some properties may be limited by environmental restrictions, poor drainage, setback rules, or septic limitations. A site evaluation can help determine what’s truly possible.

4. Skipping the Soil and Septic Evaluation

If your property isn’t connected to public sewer, a percolation test and septic design are required. Failing to schedule this early can delay your project or force a redesign. We help coordinate this process early in the evaluation.

5. Delaying the Evaluation Until After Design or Budget Decisions

Some homeowners come to us with a finalized home plan, only to discover that the layout won’t work well on their land or that the site adds unexpected costs to the project. Starting with a site evaluation allows you to tailor the plan to the land, rather than trying to force a fit later.

Ready to Build on Land in Upstate NY? Start with a Site Evaluation

Gerber Homes works with homeowners across Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and other Greater Rochester counties to evaluate, design, and build custom homes on both rural and suburban land. We’re excited to walk the land with you, explain what’s possible, and help you build smart from the start. Contact Gerber Homes to request your evaluation.