While a hill-side property can offer a few unique advantages, buyers need to keep several important factors in mind while making an investment. These include the location, elevation, views, accessibility and cost.
A sloped lot can present some incredible architectural opportunities, including basement walkouts, panoramic windows and unparalleled vantages. However, it can also create significant environmental issues if not properly considered in the initial design process.
Location
Whether you’re buying your first home or you’re looking to upgrade to a bigger house, the location of your potential home will affect several factors. For example, a hillside lot can have more of a natural appearance from the front than a flat one.
It also has the potential to open up incredible architectural possibilities, including basement walkouts, extensive panoramic windows and unparalleled vantages out across the downhill land.
However, the downside to living on a hillside is that it can be more vulnerable to mudslides and erosion issues. Check with your insurance company to ensure that it will cover these risks before making the purchase.
Elevation
While deciding on a home to purchase, one of the first considerations to make is the elevation. Elevation refers to the vertical distance above a base or between two levels.
Whether you’re looking to build a custom hillside house or a pre-existing home, the elevation of your building project can make a huge difference in the overall aesthetics and function of the finished product.
A home on a slope can offer stunning views of green valleys, wooded forests, or even the sky. However, the sloping nature of the land can present some challenges to your design. These issues can include:
Views
When considering a hill slope home, one of the most important factors to consider is the views. Whether you’re looking out over the ocean or a snow-capped mountain range, you’ll be treated to some of the most stunning views around.
Building on a slope requires careful planning and expert advice to ensure that you’re maximizing your home’s potential, while minimizing the site’s potential issues. The best way to make your hill slope home more appealing is by integrating a variety of design elements into the property’s overall appearance. These elements can include:
Accessibility
One of the most important considerations when considering a potential home is the accessibility. If the home is located on a slope, it’s important to assess the accessibility of both people and vehicles. This includes evaluating the location of pathways and driveways, and the ease with which people can enter and exit the site.
Accessibility is one of the key components in building a well-designed and functional home, and it is often the missing link between the design of a house and its overall functionality and usability. It is a challenge for architects and designers to incorporate features that make a home more accessible, but the results are worth the effort. A good example is visitability, a movement that aims to build homes that are accessible for disabled residents and visitors alike.
Cost
A hill slope home is often more expensive to build than a standard house on the flat. This is due to the additional excavation required, and it can also be more difficult for the builders to work with sloped soil or rock.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimise the cost of building on a sloped site. For example, using stilts instead of cutting into the hill can reduce excavation costs.
Getting the right Geotechnical Report will help determine how much of the ground should be excavated and what type of foundation needs to be installed. Having this report prepared early on will ensure that everyone is on the same page when pricing the project.