About this episode
Property due diligence for home building is the single most important step that protects your investment—yet most homeowners skip it entirely. The cost? $80,000 to $150,000+ in devastating surprises that turn dream projects into nightmares.In this episode, I'm joined by Don Healy, founder of Sand and Sage Solutions and creator of Parcel Reports. With over 20 years of experience in construction operations, engineering, and site development, Don has made it his mission to help homeowners make informed decisions before building or buying property.After completing our intensive 10-episode Understanding Design Limitations Series, I knew homeowners needed a practical solution for all that research. Don's expertise provides exactly that—comprehensive property evaluation that uncovers hidden risks before you're financially committed.The biggest knowledge gap Don sees? Homeowners who buy based on emotion rather than facts. You walk onto a gently sloping lot with stunning views, fall in love, and make an offer under pressure to close quickly. Nobody mentions that the slope will cost $80,000 in grading and foundation work. Nobody discusses the utility extensions needed. And that lot priced $20,000 under market? There's always a reason—Don regularly sees buyers "save" $20K only to rack up $100K-$120K in development costs to mitigate whatever issue made that lot cheaper.This conversation unpacks what comprehensive property due diligence for home building actually covers: zoning regulations and dimensional requirements that limit your design, utility access and infrastructure costs that blindside budgets, topography and grading impacts that multiply foundation expenses, environmental constraints like wetlands and flood zones that can halt projects, easements and rights-of-way that shrink your buildable area, and permit history and code violations that become your problem.Don shares powerful case studies, including a client who discovered their existing structure was grandfathered in—but new construction would require $95,000 in utility infrastructure upgrades. Finding that out during negotiations would have changed everything. Another client discovered wetlands during due diligence—disappointing, but it saved them from an impossible situation.Whether you're shopping for vacant land, already own property, or planning an addition, this episode provides the framework for protecting your investment through informed decision-making. Don explains how professional land feasibility studies for building work, what they cost (typically $500-$2,000), and the massive ROI they provide by preventing six-figure disasters.? In This Episode You'll Discover:? The emotional trap that costs homeowners $80,000-$120,000+ in surprise development costs ? Why lots priced significantly under market value are red flags, not opportunities ? What comprehensive building site evaluation services actually research and document ? The
