In brief
- Read the zoning plan at the municipality before you look at the price.
- Check ground conditions, access, water and sewage before you bid.
- Read the land register and put clear conditions in the contract.
Start with the municipality, not the agent
The first thing I do is read the zoning plan for the plot. You find it at the municipality, whether that is Nordre Follo, Ås, Vestby, Frogn, Nesodden or Enebakk. The plan tells you what you are actually allowed to build: how large, how tall, where on the plot and for what purpose. A beautiful plot with the wrong zoning can become a long process. Read the planning provisions and the map too, and ask the municipality whether anything is planned nearby.
The ground and the road to it
Next I look at the ground itself. Rock, clay and marsh mean very different groundwork costs. I ask for ground surveys and walk the plot on foot. Then I check access, water and sewage. Is there a public network in the road, or do you have to arrange it yourself? Do you have a registered right to use the road? Such details can decide whether the project is feasible at all.
Read the land register and the contract carefully
The land register shows encumbrances, easements and who owns the plot. I read it before I look at the contract. In the contract I want clear conditions, for example on the building permit, and a clear list of what is included. A plot purchase is rarely a standard product, so I use a lawyer when I am unsure.
Think about the house before you buy the plot
Finally I sketch the house in my head before I bid. Sun, views, terrain and neighbours decide where the house should stand. Then I know whether the plot fits my plan, and not just the price. Feel free to get in touch if you would like a second look at a plot you are considering.
The image at the top is an illustration of our housing project at Nedre Bekk vei 26, Vinterbro Nesset.
