Your approaches to your neighborhood are also important. Access through unattractive or congested areas can be discouraging and could reduce the pleasure in traveling to your new home. These things can downgrade the quality of your development and your property value. Investigate the zoning regulations in the community and determine the types of development permitted in the surrounding area. A more difficult task is to determine the quality of the zoning ordinance administration.
Poor administration can destroy the protective features of the zoning ordinance.
Improvement costs are usually higher in steep areas and require greater care in grading, drainage, siting of buildings, and determining lot sizes. Flat land presents problems with sewage disposal and storm water drainage. These may be signs of poor soil conditions that may add to your costs. Proper soil is an important consideration for house construction, waste disposal, and building roads. A plentiful water supply which is safe to drink and without objectionable characteristics is crucial.